A loud explosion tore the sky apart as the moon illuminated what could only be described as a field of death.

Danon hid within a muddy trench while tightly gripping his sword.

“Do those bastards ever tire?” A rather burly man yelled as he huddled next to Danon.

“There’s no way they can continue using magic like this,” Danon said as a rather beautiful woman approached.

Well, she was beautiful and dirty. Her brilliant silver armour was coated with mud and blood and her silky white hair stuck to her face.

She was the only one who wasn’t wearing a helmet.

“Ma’am!” Danon and his comrades all stood upright as they greeted their superior.

“At ease. I just got our orders from Major Pavo. We are to hold this area until Captain Graeme arrives. Then we’ll attack the enemy head-on” The woman said in a Frank manner.

“Did they give us a specific time on when they’d be getting here?” Danon asked.

“Ugh, must you question everything?” One of Danon's comrades asked.

“Pipe down, Trommer! His question is valid. We are to hold this spot for three hours.” The woman, who was known as Faveen Yolson, said. She held the rank of captain and her men were the forty fifth legion.

“Dammit.” A knight known as Vael cursed.

“Yep. We’re in for a long one, so keep your eyes peeled. I don’t want anyone one dying on me.” Faveen said as she walked towards a group of rather poorly dressed men.

Their clothes barely counted as armour, their swords looked as blunt as wood and their eyes were sunken.

“Damn… those guys look pretty beat up,” Trommer said.

“Yeah well, we should count ourselves lucky for receiving the goddesses blessing.” A knight known as Norn said.

“Ugh, that doesn’t explain why we’re out here fighting in the first place,” Trommer said.

“Isn’t it because of the actions of Kalosýni the Blue?” Vael asked.

“Don’t speak his name so lightly,” Norn said while glaring at Vael.

“Come on, let’s be serious for a moment. What did Kalosýni do that was so bad it brought about the near end of our world?” Vael asked.

“Mmm… I heard that he attacked the goddess Eirini and her people. That, in turn, led to the damnation of our kind. The goddess sent her kin to punish us for Kalosýni’s sins.” Trommer said.

“That is only part of the truth, but did you know that he is a dark being and that he was born in the darkest part of Nar' Agrun?” Norn asked.

“Isn’t that just propaganda? I heard he was human, but he was cursed or something.” Trommer said.

“Ah-ha! He was a singing child. A dark and twisted existence.” Vael said.

“It was he who opened the dark gates and led the forces of Nar' Agrun as they invaded our realm,” Norn said with crossed arms.

“Did you see him leading the dark hordes?” Trommer asked.

“Yeah. I heard that Kalosýni actually killed serval hundreds of them.” Vael said.

“I am telling you that he led them. He is humanity’s enemy, but those fools to the east think otherwise,” Norn said.

“Mmm…” Vael droned before silence befell the trench.

“What’s with the long faces?” Faveen asked as she walked up to the group.

“We were just wondering what caused this war,” Vael said.

“They were wondering.” Norn accused.

“Mmm… I don’t think any of that matters. What matters is that thousands of our people have been killed by those eastern dogs and it is our duty to fight until every single one of them is dead. So, does confusion still haunt your minds?” Faveen asked.

“No ma’am!” Everyone said simultaneously.

“Good. Now, get into position. Our enemy may strike at any moment.” Faveen said prompting the group to disperse.

Danon was at the centre most point.

He looked out into the broken land before him.

Deep holes and burnt grass filled his view.

He sighed as another loud explosion went off nearby, but at this point, he had built a tolerance for the fear caused by the explosions.

.

..

Two or so hours had passed and Danon’s eyes stung.

He hadn’t had any sleep in a while and his body was practically begging for him to rest-

BOOM!

A loud explosion went off to Danon’s right.

“INCOMING!” A voice yelled before another loud explosion went off.

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“They’re making a move!” Another voice yelled.

Danon slowly popped his head out of the trench and saw about fifty armoured men in the distance.

“Danon and Norn, pepper them with some light fire while the rest if you charge up heavier attacks!” Faveen yelled.

Danon nodded to himself before sending light into his hands.

He then threw several balls of light over the trench.

The air was filled with the sounds of explosions.

Danon continued to throw his magical shells until-

“Take cover!” Vael yelled before a gigantic explosion went off.

BOOM!

“Alright, Danon and Norn, you two go up there and kill anything that moves!” Faveen yelled.

Danon swallowed loudly before climbing out of the trench.

He then created a fosblade as he charged towards the enemy.

He saw several wounded men scattered across the dark field.

He ran over to one of the charred bodies to find that it wasn’t covered in armour.

It looked like it had been badly beaten.

Danon looked ahead and sensed a surge in magical energy.

“It’s a trap!” He yelled as he ran back towards the trenches, but it was too late.

Danon expected to be thrown across the battlefield, but he slowly opened his eyes to find Faveen standing in front of him.

Smoke rose from her body and loud crackles could be heard.

“Retreat!” She barked.

Danon dove back into the trenches before a barrage of magical explosions went off.

“Where’s Norn?” Faveen yelled.

Danon ran to her side to find that she had suffered severe burns.

“Worry about yourself for once!” Danon yelled as he sent her some of his light, healing her in the process.

“I’m fine!” Norn yelped from somewhere.

“We can’t keep this up. Those fiends! Do they feel no shame?” Vael asked as he knelt by Faveen’s side.

“We’ll complain later. For now-"

A loud explosion interrupted Faveen as a man approached from the west.

“You all look like garbage.” A rather handsome middle-aged man said.

“Took you long enough to get here, Graeme,” Faveen said with a hint of annoyance and a drizzle of relief.

“What can I say? It’s my style. Anyway, you’re needed back in the capital.” Graeme said.

“The Hole?” Faveen asked while suppressing her anxiety, but Graeme sighed, confirming her fears.

“The Hole,” Graeme said as several more explosions went off above them.

“Dammit!” Vael cursed.

“Mmm… not to be cruel, but why weren’t you chosen?” Faveen asked.

“No idea, but our scouts reported that a large army was headed towards the capital. It seems as though the end of this war is fast approaching.” Graeme said as he created a rather bright fosblade.

“I see.” Faveen droned.

“Ok, we’ll go, but not before we help you take out the trash here,” Faveen said as she stretched her arm.

Her cracked armour and bruised shoulder bothered her very little.

“Hehe, even in battle, you remain as stubborn as ever. Ok, let’s go.” Graeme said before climbing out of the trench.

Everyone else followed him up to find Graeme's men mercilessly attacking their enemies.

“Charge!” Graeme barked as everyone created fosblades.

The battle that followed was honestly rather underwhelming.

Of all the enemies they killed, only ten or so could use magic.

The others were either support units or prisoners who were once Danon’s comrades.

Danon scoured the campsite in search of any hidden enemies but found none.

“Either the Marfian’s hate their men or this is a trap,” Vael said as he rummaged through one of the nearby tents.

“I agree. Finish up so that Graeme and his men conduct a thorough search.” Faveen said.

The primary search eventually ended and Faveen's group eventually made their way back to the eastern trenches.

From there, they grabbed their equipment before making their way north.

“Dammit, we gotta go all the way to Eslaf?” Vael asked.

“Yep,” Faveen said as she entered one of two open-top carriages.

They were shoddily made and the horses that drove them weren’t looking too great either.

“So… The Hole,” Vael said as they rode along the muddy path.

The morning sun illuminated their dirty bodies.

“Is it true that the last eminence is the one that created it?” Vael asked.

“If I had a bronze coin for every time one of you asked a dumb question, I’d retire.” Norn said.

“Hey, it's not dumb if I don’t know, right?” Vael asked.

“Ugh, fine. I’m not sure about the finer details, but I know that Eminence Vinaar battled the eastern dogs and their battle resulted in that massive pit.” Norn explained.

“Oh? What was their leader's name again? Trevenor… weird name. Anyway, some say that he’s actually a dark being.” Vael said.

“That would explain how he was able to defeat an eminence.” Norn said.

“Mmm… I’m not so sure. I heard that eminence Vinaar wasn’t as strong as previous eminences.” Trommer said.

“Oh? Don’t you think it may have something to do with the betrayer’s return?” Vael asked.

“Maybe, but it’s been a while since his last sighting.” Norn said.

Silence followed as the group rode along.

“Ah well, enough depressing topics. Hey, Danon, how’s your girlfriend doing?” Vael asked.

“She’s fine, I guess. Although, I assume she may be bored all by herself in the capital.” Danon said.

“Oh? Aren’t the two of you from Iannton?” Vael asked.

“Yep. We both met after we were rescued by the order. I chose to serve the order as a way to show my gratitude and she chose to stay in the capital to help those in need.” Danon said with a rare smile.

“Aww, that’s sweet. If only I had someone waiting for me back home.” Vael said while weirdly moving his body.

“You would if you weren’t so annoying.” Norn said.

“Grr! Look who’s talking, you preachy bastard,” Vael said as he narrowed his eyes.

Norn created a fosblade.

“Say that again, idiot.” Norn said.

“That’s enough!” Faveen said from the next cart.

“Yes, ma’am.” Norn and Vael said before Vael’s eyes widened.

“Hey, there’s a nice looking spot, if you guys are interested in a quick bath.” He said rather excitedly.

“You idiot, we are needed in the capital-"

“I agree,” Faveen said, cutting Norn off.

The group then stopped by the eastern bank of the Iann river.

The water ran at a rather rapid place and was fairly cool.

Everyone then extended their hands and created a cylindrical barrier of light.

“What’s this?” Faveen asked.

“Some privacy for the captain,” Vael said.

Faveen chuckled.

“You didn’t have to, but thanks anyway,” Faveen said before walking into the barrier which covered part of the river and part of the river bank.

“Dammit!” Trommer cursed.

“Hehe, that’s what we get for being gentlemen,” Vael said as he ripped off his armour.

Everyone else did the same before they all jumped into the river.

“Sheesh! This is actually quite cold!” Trommer said as the players of mud drifted off with the water.

“Yeah.” Norn said before realizing that Danon was looking at him strangely.

“What is it?” Norn asked as he bashfully washed his body.

Danon’s eyes narrowed before Vael jumped out of the water.

“Eek!” Norn yelped as he ran to Trommer’s side.

“Hahaha!” Vael laughed as his long wet black hair stuck to his face.

“You idiot! I could have killed you.” Norn said while puffing his chest.

“Really? Even after releasing such a wimpy sound, you still dare make such claims.” Vael said with a chuckle.

“I’m seriously going to kill you in your sleep.” Norn said before exiting the river.

“Hehe, I’d like to see you try!” Vael said as Trommer exited the river water.

“Ahh… that was fun. Wanna see something cool?” Vael asked.

Danon nodded as he crossed his arms.

Vael gathered particles of light around his legs and slowly lifted himself.

“I’m walking… on water,” Vael said with a bright smile.

Danon sighed.

“Is that it?” He asked as he exited the river.

“Of course! The kids back in the old country used to love this trick.” Vael said as he joined the others.

“You say that like you’re an old geezer,” Trommer said as Faveen walked out of the magic barrier.

Her skin looked refreshed, but nothing could be done to rid her of the bags beneath her eyes.

“I hope everyone is feeling nice and refreshed because we’re not stopping until we reach Eslaf,” Faveen said as she hopped onto the carriage.

“Yes ma’am!” Everyone said before joining her.

Thus continued their journey to the capital.