The continent was at war.
The demons had attacked the humans, the humans had attacked the demons, and thus there was cause for war.
Armies clashed on the Endless Plains. The humans' Central Allied Army from the east, the demons' Great Western Army from the west.
The first great battle lasted many days, but in the end both sides were forced to retreat. Yet the war wasn't over. From then on, the divisions from the Allied Army and the troops from the Western Army fought many times in smaller scaled skirmishes.
This was one of those skirmishes.
The Eagle division and the Obsidian troops battled it out on the plains dividing their lands. Though humankind had managed to secure an advantegeous position on the side of a hill, demonkind pushed forward, continuously pressuring them.
An archery platoon was brought in as support. Eagle Commander used the reinforcements as moral fuel as he attempted to push back. In response, the elite winged demons took to the sky, flying out of reach of the battle below, to attack the archers that had become their enemies' ray of hope.
Leading the aerial unit was a male demon with wings like the night sky, horns the colour of pure silver and turbulent blue eyes. In his hand he held a black steel spear, simple yet elegant, elegant yet merciless.
Arrows assaulted them as they neared, but the demons pushed forward, relying on their tough armour, knocking down projectiles aimed for less protected parts.
The humans desperately aimed and shot, knowing that if the demons reached them they wouldn't stand a chance.
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Except for one, a girl that had barely left her teenaged years behind, brown hair and green eyes, the bow in her hands remarkably different from those around her. No arrow was nocked on the bowstring however, she was merely looking up at the demons approaching.
They were different from the stories she'd heard. Their horns and wings were nowhere near deformed or revolting, but could craftman and sculptors to shame. They had no claws, no glowing crimson eyes, no bloodthirsty aura that could make even the most hardened warrior quake in their boots.
She had doubted the Allied Army's claims that they were fighting against evil monstrosities that wished to plunge the world into chaos and slaughter. Seems she had been right to.
However, when her captain's hatred-filled gaze landed on her, she still nocked an arrow and lifted her bow. She was here against her will, but if she performed badly her village would pay for it. Or even worse, she might never return.
Her home was in a constant struggle against the beasts that lived in the forest. Because of this they needed many warriors to protect themselves and thrive. Though when the war took a turn for the worse for humankind, all the allied nations started forcefully drafting soldiers. Many of the village's younger warriors were taken, just like her, so they were in a dire situation.
The girl had resolved herself to survive and return, the sooner the better.
The black-winged demon leader watched as the girl on the front lines finally raised her bow. Her sharp eyes observed him, searching for a weakness in his defense. There was no fear, there wasn't even bloodlust, if he had not been looking directly at her the senses he was so proud of wouldn't have warned him until it was too late. A delightful chill ran down his spine. This wasn't a soldier, nor a warrior, this was a hunter, looking at prey, patiently waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
He grinned.
It would be a waste to kill her.
After shouting some orders, he dove towards the platoon's front line. He only stopped his descent at the last moment, the wind caused by his large wings, being reinforced with magic, was ferocious. It toppled the soldiers like saplings in a storm.
When the dust settled, an arrow was aimed at his throat.