A large brigade of soldiers, their chainmail glittering in the Sun, march. For days they have been scouring the countryside, searching for Clarent. The leader of this excursion was on horseback, wearing fine plate armor, began to ride to the front of the procession. “That’s enough men! We will be setting up camp outside the nearby village!” with that, he reared his horse and cantered to the back. The troops marched on, like thralls under a sages control. When they had reached the village the afternoon sun had dipped. With this, he had his command tent set up and retreated inside. He pulled his helmet off, revealing golden hair. One of his maids pulled out a chair for him and he sat behind his desk, beginning to write his daily report.
After finishing his report and sealing it, a soldier burst into his tent, panting “Major Seolfur! The Green Faction is attac-!” An arrow pierced through his throat. His maids screamed and Seolfur kicked his desk in front and crouched to the ground. He grabbed his sword and tore its sheath off. He held it with both hands. He heard footsteps and closed his eyes. “Major. Surrender. We don’t want to fight more than we hav-” before he could finish Seolfur jumped over the desk and sliced the man in the stomach. The man spluttered blood over Seolfur and collapsed. The room had five, now four, soldiers, wearing light chainmail and one with ornate robes. The man closest to him slammed him in the forehead with his pommel, splitting it open, blinding him. Another shot him with an arrow in the shoulder.
Seolfur grunted. Then launched himself at the one who split his forehead. The man braced himself and tried to block the sword but Seolfur cut through the sword and into his chest. The other men came at him. He grabbed a dagger at his waist, a light blue light emitted from the tip, and threw it at the archer. The archer tried to dodge, but the dagger turned sharply and slammed into the man’s face to the hilt.
“So you can use magic. What a surprise.” The robed figure chuckled. Seolfur rammed his shoulder into one of the remaining men and cut the other down the middle. He stabbed the downed man in the heart, then faced the robed figure.
“You’re cut from a different cloth Major. Those homunculi were top of the line. I’m surprised you lasted this long.” the robed figure unhooded themselves. A woman with ebony hair with red lips and piercing amber eyes looked at him.
“You’re a descendant of Llacheu aren’t you? You have the same eyes as him.” Seolfur smiled.
He stood tall and looked her dead in the eyes. “The Old King is my grandfather.” The woman’s eyes widened and she started laughing as her hands filled with magic energy. “You’re even more special then I thought.” Glowing chains wrapped around his legs. Seolfur ran at the woman with his sword. “It’s useless those chains will bind you and you’ll be- That sword! Why do you have D-!” The sword flashed blue and the magic was absorbed and he slashed at her. A blade of wind slashed her in half, also ripping all the tent’s around him up.
He sighed “What a shame to use such an attack here” he kicked the body “Useless mage. All talk and no show.” He spat on the corpse and looked around. He spotted the maids who were in his tent.
They were cowering. “Don’t worry you three. Get to the wagons.” They nodded and ran. With this Seolfur walked towards the camp fixing his sheath to his belt. He still wielded his sword, Durandal the sword that can cut through anything.
Seolfur had arrived at the village and saw the chaos of a town turned battlefield. Corpses littered the street, the screams of children and adults filled the air. While smoke poured from the other end. Some soldiers resting around some survivors saw Seolfur and ran to him. “Magor! What do we do?” one of them asked
“Gather the civilians and any soldier you can find we’re going to evacuate the village!” he shouted at them. They saluted and split into groups.
“Major .” a gruff voice called out. Seolfur turned “I was looking for you.” he smiled “Good to see you Beo.” The buff, dark man towering above looked at him “Of course Major. I am your second after all. Come we have set up in a church a base of operations until we evacuate.” he motioned with his hand “Follow me.”
As they walked Beo talked “We were shocked when we encountered the Greens, but it was too late. They launched everything they had at us.” he sighed “We beat them but it was too late, the village is doomed and their reinforcements are coming, I can smell them over the smoke.” he rubbed his nose at this. “This is not good. Have you already sent a message to command?” the Major asked. Beo chuckled “Of course we have, we did that first.” Seolfur smiled. “Oh yeah, Major .” “Yes, Beo, what is it?.” “You’re welcome.” Beo tore the arrow out of his shoulder. Seolfur grunted and grabbed his shoulder, his hand glowing a light yellow. When he pulled his hand back the wound was sealed. “Thanks.” he hissed out. Beo let out a hearty laugh, then called out “Open the door boys. Majors here!”
The door to the church was opened and Seolfur was ushered into the center pew. “What is the plan Major?” Beo asked. “We need to evacuate the town with as many survivors as possible. If you see any civilian grab them and bring them with you. Have we gotten a response from Blue Keep yet?”
One of the messengers called out “Aye. They want us to press on. Clarent is still the top priority.” “Damn it.” Seolfur cursed. “Did you inform them of the Green reinforcements?” “Not yet sir.” Seolfur sighed “Do it immediately.” “Sir!” the messenger saluted and returned to his post.
“How long do we expect until the reinforcement arrive?” Seolfur asked after sitting down. “Three or four hours. The village will be smoldering by then.” he sighed “We need to evacuate now Major. We can’t fight them like we are now.” Beo said. Seolfur sighed. “Gather as many people as you can in 2 hours then evacuate. Beo, get your squad ready. We will stay until we see the Greens.” he ran a hand through his hair, “and someone find my helmet.” The troops stood around for a second before breaking into teams. “Beo you and your boys need to be here. We have to take out the Green Major at all costs. If we fail then…” Beo shifted uncomfortably “I know Seolfur. I know. I’ll go get them ready.” he walked off and tossed a helmet behind him. “One of the maids handed this to me. Said you’d be looking for it.” Seolfur smiled “Guess she was right.” he sat it next to him and pulled out Durandal. He examined the blade for any chips or cracks, but it was a futile effort. He stared into the blade, and his vibrant blue eyes looked back. A weathered face, covered in blood, with long blonde hair roughly cut.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Seolfur pulled out a cloth and began polishing Durandal. He did this often, a habit, even though the sword never got dirty, damaged or battered. It was a perfect sword for a perfect warrior.
Much later he heard “Major.” a woman's voice pulled him away from polishing the blade. He looked up and saw Captain D’arc. “Shouldn't you be helping with the evacuations?” he looked at her. The Captain stood at attention hands behind her back. “With all due respect Major, I have a request.” Seolfur looked surprised. “What may that be Captain?” she breathed deep “I would like to be assigned to the team to fight the Green reinforcements.” Seolfur stood up, setting Durandal down. “Captain, do you realize what you are asking me?” she nodded “You are asking me to put you, someone fresh out of training, to fight such high-level combatants.” he sighed and sat back down. “Major do you not believe in me?” she said taken back “Of course I trust you. You’re a good officer, but you have zero real combat experience before this day. It would weigh on my conscious if you were to be killed.” she gasped
“Sir, please you must give me a chance. How else will I be able to prove my self? This will be the perfect chance.” Seolfur put his hands to his face and sighed. “Fine, go find Beo for orders.” She smiled “Thank you, Major, I won’t let you down!” she saluted, then left the building.
Seolfur sighed and sheathed Durandal. He stood up “Do we have any information on whoever is coming here?” a scrawny soldier came up “We have confirmation the Major is in possession of the King’s Spear Rhongomyniad.” Seolfur groaned. “Of course he has an Armament. Just my luck.” he sighed “How much longer until they arrive?” “Another half hour Sir. We are just about to break camp. “Very good, get Beo and his crew in front of the church. And where is my helmet? It was right here.” he kicked the pew and walked out.
Beo and his troops, along with Major D’arc, we’re waiting for him. They stood solemnly. They knew many of them would not make it out alive, but they stayed. “Thank you all for coming. I know this is going to be a hard battle, but know that no matter what happens, we must win. No matter what.” Seolfur looked to the horizon, the moon beginning to peak out. “How much longer Beo?”
“Ten minutes Major .” Beo’s face was unreadable, it was like he had put on a stone mask. He looked at his troops “You may leave if you wish. This battle will be no place for ordinary men. Anyone who runs, you have my blessing.” the soldiers shifted around but eventually stopped and stood still. “Good. You all are pretty brave.”
“Let’s get a move on. We shouldn't keep them waiting.” Seolfur motioned his hand and they began marching out. With Beo leading the charge, Seolfur and D’arc stayed at the rear, waiting until the right time to come out.
After marching out, they arrived at a clearing, on the outskirts of the ruined village. “Major. They are here…” Beo called back. Seolfur walked forward, with Captain D’arc not far behind him. The troops split to let them threw.
Seolfur held his hand up, the troops readied themselves. There came a horn blast from the Greens, and they began to charge. Seolfur dropped his arm, and his troops ran. They engaged in combat. Although they lacked in numbers Beos troops were battle-hardened and better trained, they cut through the front line and ravaged those behind them.
They split their forces in half, which allowed Seolfur to walk through to get to the Major. When anyone tried to attack him, Major D’arc would counter and toss them back in. Her fists enhanced with magic, making her punches near lethal, and could break an iron shield in one punch. They had reached the command when Beo joined them. He had dealt with half the forces by himself, burying them under the earth. They reached the commanding officer “Surrender Greens. It’s over, we have you routed and isolated. Any further conflict will cause unwarranted death.”
The Green Leader spit in front of him. He was a greasy beanpole of a man, wearing clothes too big. He said not a word but brought out Rhongomyniad. “Don’t you dare think you have beaten us yet you bastard.” He and the guards around him launched themselves at Seolfur and his party. D’arc and Beo hammered on the soldiers. Punching and kicking them, breaking plate mail with a single blow. A hidden archer fired at Beo, hitting him straight in the eye with a flurry of arrows.
Beo fell back incapacitated, while D’arc jumped and launched herself at the archer taking them out. Seolfur unsheathed Durandal and prepared to fight the Green Leader. “Come fight me, you green bastard.” Seolfur snarled before rushing at him. The Green blocked a sideways slash with Rhongomyniad but was pushed a few feet back. He stabbed at Seolfur, but it was easily dodged and brought a vertical slash down. The Green jumped back and threw Rhongomyniad at Seolfur, he caught it by the shaft with a loud pop but dropped it. He growled, his hand burned. The spear appeared in the Greens hand and he hit Seolfur in the face, cleaving his eye, causing a groan and propelling him into a tree, breaking the truck and uprooting it.
“Major !” Captain D’arc cried, before jumping down and pummeling the Green. She easily evaded a slash and grabbed the Greens collar. Stunning him, she pummelled his face, breaking his nose and bruising everything else. She let go, then hit him in the stomach. The green was launched back and spat blood out of his mouth.
“You...you bitch!” he hollered and pulled Rhongomyniad to his side, magical energy began to swirl around the tip, building pressure. Electricity built up around the tip and he launched it at her. She crossed her arms in front of her, building up a barrier. It was not needed, however, as Beo pushed her out of the way. He took the full brunt of the attack. He sputtered blood then was thrown back across the field. Where he crashed into a forest. “Beo..” Seolfur looked at the Green. He stood up. He held Durandal with both hands to his side and braced himself. Magic began flowing into the sword.
“I won’t let you!” the Green snarled, charging Rhongomyniad up once again. D’arc had gotten behind and slammed her fists into his spine. There was a loud crack as his vertebrae were broken. He channeled magic into his back but it was too late. His spine was completely shattered. He managed to keep himself from falling. Durandal hummed with energy.
“D’arc get away!” he hollered. She jumped back to the right of Seolfur. He charged at the Green, but the Green readied Rhongomyniad. Seolfur slashed with Durandal and was greeted by being impaled through the stomach with Rhongomyniad.
However, the Green was hit with Durandals might, and paid the price for it. His body was cut in half, the woods on his left were gone, blown away by Durandal. His blood sprayed across the field, and he died. Seolfur panted, dropped Durandal and collapsed.
“Major! Don’t you die on me!” Captain D’arc ran over to him. She placed her foot on his chest. “Sorry Major .” she ripped out Rhongomyniad and tossed it to the ground. She placed her hand over the wound and froze it. “We need to get a medic.” she slung him over her shoulder, picked up Rhongomyniad and sheathed Durandal. “Beo…” Seolfur groaned. “I’ll send a search party for him, don’t worry Majo-.” she was cut off by a series of loud explosions from where Beo was flung. D’arc started running, being careful not to hurt the Major worse off than he already was. She hoped they would make it before he died