Volume I Scions of Destiny - Chapter 2 Part I: Inflection Point

Quickly and stealthily, while everyone was focused on combat, the night arrived and painted the skies black for a few hours.

Due to little to no lights lit on the streets, the night sky over Castanica was a uniform black with millions of stars and a white glowing moon vivid to the naked eye.

The battle was long and exhausting, but Castanica’s defenders finally won and earned time to rest for a few more hours, or maybe a day.

However...the ground beyond the walls after the successive clashes were stained with...

...blood and a black viscous substance, as far as their eyes could see.

The only reward what General Scatter obtained in return after the long defense of Castanica, nothing more than the blood of countless fallen creatures…

Although their numbers greatly surpassed their own, he and the makeshift response battalion under him successfully repelled the second enemy wave assaulting Castanica, but at a great cost, as their numbers were reduced to the half.

‘...What kind of victory is this?...we managed to repel them but...’ General scatter thought to himself as he looked at his soldiers...no. Survivors.

‘Can we really defeat the enemy?’ Almost all the remaining soldiers had that question within their minds as despair slowly clawed their souls.

All of his soldiers once again were sitting in the same place where they were before, waiting for their General to resume narrating his story.

This somehow managed to reduce their anxiety and shield their mind from the despair circling around their minds like vultures, ready to torn apart their minds.

Their hope was destroyed. No...their hope was torn away by their enemies’ claws like the skin of their comrades were ripped away from their dying bodies...

...Their hope was severed by their enemies’ ferocity like their companions’ limbs...and also their hope was devoured alive by creatures like their companions’ flesh.

But General Scatter’s story gave them a little of...

...Hope and composure, enough to keep their minds sane and focused, after all, the living nightmares which they have fought and seen before their eyes would make anyone insane.

It gave them hope no matter how infinitesimal, giving them another focus to turn away from the reality for a few minutes.

The General Scatter was still seated in silence, on top of the same ceramic stairs he was before.

He was watching all of them intently from above, being able to see their gaunt expression on their faces despite the victory...

‘I’ve no information on what’s going on, but if Castanica’s being besieged, then it’s a full enemy invasion…’ General Scatter clenched his jaw silently.

‘...Probably Lumbertown is already taken… What does assure us is that if we get out of this alive, will Velika be alright?’ Scatter shook his head to disperse the thought.

‘That useless ‘comm device’ is broken, but Headquarters knows we’re here, so… assuming that Velika’s still standing, we should get an evacuation, right?...’ Scatter thought to himself.

Meanwhile, the scent of death lingers within everyone’s noses, as no one is without bearing stains of blood, even the corpses of their fallen foes and their surrounding are drenched in crimson death.

‘...More importantly...why is our enemy sending waves?...they probably just want to stop us in this position...for the third assault…-’ Scatter stopped his own thoughts and suddenly shouted surprising his soldiers.

“Well!...Let’s keep going then!” General Scatter shouted aloud and everyone lifted their heads and focused their eyes on him.

“Six months later, the power of the Iron Order alliance had diminished…”

The balance of power between the alliances was finally restored.

The Enlighten Union, the sister alliance of the Free Traders Collective, lent their assistance in some of the hardest battles against the Iron Order extremists, forcing them to finally retreat back of the Arun continent once and for all.

Both sister Alliances were now growing, promising a better world for future citizens living in their territories as the alliances conflicts and clashes came to an ‘end’ after two years of war.

The expansionist Iron Order had not yet been defeated, but rather, controlled.

Peace was still within their reach, as they need just a little push. But the oppressive hunger for power is always stronger and tenacious…

Velika, the capital city of the Free Traders Collective, finally achieved peace and quiet.

Velika also achieved prosperity due to the recent discovery of a new mineral; the Noctenium, thanks to it, Velika was growing by leaps and bounds.

This mineral quickly revitalized the markets and stabilized the economy of FTC alliance’s territories; while Velika was slowly becoming an economic powerhouse with its active trade and exportations.

On the other part, our heroes could finally have a well-earned break given directly by Adiar, as the Iron Order’s forces completely retreated and there was not even a single one of their soldiers in their continent.

Meanwhile at the FTC’s hall outskirts, drifted a warm autumn breeze through short ferns and the green grass on the hills and the plains around the FTC’s hall.

The grass was flooded with tree leaves all along as the winter was going to arrive soon, at this date the Elins in their native city preparing the Winter Festival, celebrating its arrival…

...But Mech couldn't go due to her responsibilities within the alliance, as she was one of the only two Elins within the FTC’s ranks; instead, she was leaning her back on a sepia frustum near the northeast FTC’s hall gate.

She was wearing her usual loose sleeve siena detailed gown alongside her billowing mini-skirt and her black short knickerbockers under it.

Mech placed her tail over her legs and calmly and blandly brushed it with her owns fingers, as her gaze looked to the horizon and emptiness.

She was unable to notice the leaves of the tree at her back, as they slowly glided down as the breeze sometimes drove them away gently.

Next to her, there was Korah still wearing his grape-colored heavy plated armor also leaning his back on the frustum calmly sleeping.

Korah was a blonde-haired High Elf, his body possessed normal male features but these were mostly of the time covered by his imposing heavy armor.

Even so, taking a closer look, the scars on his pale face slowly revealed by themselves.

Showing that already, despite his young age of 27, Korah had already participated in several wars and already seen death and its brutal nature hundreds of times.

...The High Elves...formerly known as Elves long ago, the most advanced race in terms of magic sequences and their knowledge could defy the ancient race, the Barakas.

The Elves were known by every race by their advanced technology and techniques. They were smart and hardworking.

But all their strengths were eclipsed by their own greed and arrogance.

Slowly, their ego was nurtured and the Elves started to look at every other race with a disparaging gaze, especially towards the Humans, an inferior race to their eyes.

The Humans were quickly growing in leaps and bounds due to Elves’ technology and giving a better usage than the Elves.

The Elves unable to stand this fact, closed their frontiers and trades even after a mild portion of their people was against this, but these measurements didn't stop the humans’ growth at all.

Upon noticing this, the Elves then started a project to create the Core inside their main city, Allemantheia, which would serve as an almost unlimited magic core power source.

With it, the Elves would be able to accelerate their magic sequences and processes as well as being an independent magic source inside their own city.

Thus they would ‘defeat’ the Humans’ preponderant economic power one once for all.

...But at what cost?

After the Core was finished, it slowly absorbed all the Nature of the city and outskirts; eradicating it, as at the same time a civil war exploded within the city.

The Elves as a race divided into two factions, the High Elves who defended the Core; and the Wind Elves, who wanted to shut down the Core before the Elins would arrive, as it would probably end in a war.

The Wind Elves were trying to defend their own people, as they knew that the Elins, a powerful race in almost all means, would sooner or later come to their lands and fix their mistake, peacefully...or forcefully.

However, the Elves’ civil war just lasted five months.

Although the Wind Elves had a ‘secret’ support from the Poporis independently helping them in the civil war, it was not enough for them to hold back the High Elves faction.

Both, Poporis and Wind Elves, were crushed and brutally executed by the High Elves; and so the Wind Elves faction was eradicated.

Every sympathizer and partisan of the Wind Elves faction was persecuted and then executed till the High Elves faction absolutely wiped out even the slightest thought of rebellion of their own people.

...Even though many of the High Elves knew they were making a mistake in killing their own people for power, it was already done: There was no step back for them anymore.

After the civil war ended, the Elves rose up as a new ‘race’, officially calling themselves as High Elves, as their ego and arrogance was completely blinding them, and pointed everyone as enemies, blaming others for their weaknesses and mistakes made.

Quickly, they regrouped their armies and crossed the ocean, aiming to defeat the Humans with their own hands in one strike and then destroy the Pora Elinu Nation, who was also a potential threat.

Thus, the War of the Races begun...

Meanwhile, within the FTC’s hall, many soldiers carrying supply crates from side to side inside the hall, to then be delivered to Velika, as the FTC’s hall was just at one hour or so away of Velika.

The officers were walking around delivering reports or giving out orders to the soldiers, guiding them to where each box should be.

Although the Iron Order’s forces weren't on their territories anymore, there was still much to do and every allied location was still heavily guarded and patrolled inside the Hall, as it was the main diplomatic base of the Free Traders Collective.

*** *** *** ***

At the second floor of the Free Traders Hall, Bready was resting his forearms on the railing of a terrace, which was looking directly at the end of the hall.

Bready got up there after hack around the Hall for an hour, bored of his free day off; but all this then went away when he managed to spot Princess Caut from afar at the end of the hall working with an unbreakable will.

He stood attentively looking at the Princess Caut’s beauty while she worked for a good time, with unbreakable patience.

On the other part, Caut was sitting in her high white chair, similar to a throne, reading reports a few officers delivered to her early in the morning.

She read the reports with a serious expression on her face, but thanks to her sharp animalistic senses she could feel a peculiar gaze from afar fixing on her.

The Princess fixed her soft blue eyes on Bready just for a second but then refocused back on her work, but it was enough for Bready to experiment a warm feeling all over his heart while he sighed.

‘Ahh...I wonder what she thinks of me...’ Bready thought to himself while in his mind reminiscing that soft, sweet gaze of those blue eyes when he was awakened into the world.

There was no doubt in his mind, the Princess Caut was the one he saw years ago, but he has never been able to confirm it or actually get the chance to speak with her closely.

*** *** *** ***

Chatter filled the Free Traders Collective’s hall as it was packed, although, at the end of the bottom of the hall; next to the Princess, there was the Executor Adiar alongside Nethaniel, the commander of the Free Trader Collective’s elite forces.

Nethaniel was a short-length white-haired Castanic warrior of 24 years old, and the leader possessing the highest authority of the main Clan of the Master Clan Castanic, the Val Uskhal’s Clan.

As usual, Nethaniel wore his white-silver heavy plate armor that protected every centimeter of his well-trained body, with two large shoulder pads resting on his shoulders.

His hands and feet were covered by heavy gauntlets and greaves respectively which were adjusted almost perfectly for his body.

Nethaniel’s hazel eyes were always stern and unfriendly, watchful of his surroundings

While his imposing dual sheathed swords, each one rested on the opposite side of his waist, gave Nethaniel a martial and colossal appearance to whoever looked at him, with a long yellow ribbon entwined in the swords’ handles, giving them a flamboyant and ostentatious detail at Nethaniel’s hip.

Both Adiar and Nethaniel were standing next to each other side by side, watching over the crowded and noisy FTC’s hall in a professional conversation.

“My Sentinels are patrolling Velika day and night while everything gets back to normal.”

Nethaniel informed with a serious voice looking at Adiar while from his left pocket he retrieved a small but refined metallic-black square lighter.

“I am glad you can help us, Nethaniel. I really appreciate it.” Adiar said thankfully, although with a serious tone while Nethaniel put a cigarette in his mouth.

“Is the least I can do for you guys,” Nethaniel said with a friendly tone while igniting his cigarette and inhaled the lit cigar briefly.

“Haha...if you say it,” Adiar replied shortly as he knew a great part of the story behind those words.

Nethaniel released a puff of cigarette smoke in response and then he laughed silently as Adiar just looked at him a little puzzled.

Suddenly Nethaniel stopped laughing abruptly as his sharp senses felt something out of place coming towards them.

Dropping his cigarette, Nethaniel fixed his gaze towards the main entrance, down the hall alert of any danger approaching.

The Executor Adiar also fixed his gaze down the hall just as Nethaniel and both saw a pale soldier wearing the usual FTC’s uniform armor rushing towards him, which Adiar quickly recognized.

...but for some reason, Adiar remained in silence.

The pale soldier kept making his way towards Adiar while their companions just looked at them puzzled by his behavior.

Nethaniel by his part took two steps forward and stood there calmly.

“Stay your ground, soldier!” Nethaniel shouted threateningly as his voice echoed through the hall, drawing the attention of the majority within.

Everyone felt a chill going through their spine, instilling profound fear upon hearing Nethaniel’s martial voice.

But to everyone’s surprise, the pale soldier kept rushing towards them.

Nethaniel placed his right hand on the left sword handle ready to draw upon the slightest show of hostility while he took a calm breath.

Even after seeing this, the soldier kept running towards him as Nethaniel slowly took out surefire of his sword and tensed the muscles of his right arm preparing a deadly blow aiming for the pale soldier’s center torso.

*Tap*

“Wait.” Nethaniel heard Adiar’s voice behind him as he felt Adiar’s hand on his right shoulder pad.

“What’s happening Adiar?” Nethaniel asked back, relaxing his body and releasing his left sword’s grip.

“I don’t know, but he is my private messenger,” Adiar explained as the soldier reached both of them, heavily breathing of a pale-purple complexion as both could see now.

“Explain yourself, soldier,” Nethaniel spoke severely to the pale soldier before him while he was inspecting it from feet to head.

The soldier was so out of breath and sweating, that when he opened his mouth to speak, not even a single word came out except for a slightly pained cry as he fell on his knees, holding his neck to dull the pain.

Nethaniel just looked the soldier kneeling on the floor impassively while turned his head to Adiar calmly.

“Adiar?”

“You.” Adiar pointed an officer before him. “Find and bring Mech here, immediately!” Adiar ordered with a serious voice.

“Yes, sir!” The officer answered in a firm position, then turned and went running outside looking for Mech.

*** *** *** ***

It was nearly noon, a perfect time for a nap; even so, Mech and Korah could not sleep completely, due part of their minds was always aware of their surroundings, a sequel after the long battles against the Iron Order.

Still, Korah was able to fall asleep, while Mech couldn’t.

Unable to sleep, Mech slowly opened her soft purple eyes, and see how a small yellowish leaf slowly descending before her within hand’s reach.

‘Autumn is coming…’ Mech thought to herself as she tenderly caught the leaf with her hand before it fell to the ground while her gaze wandered into space and her eyes devoid of luster.

After she caught the leaf, she lifted her hand and stretched it forward slightly, levitating the leaf on her palm while on the leaf multiple white-eclipsed runes appeared on it.

In her view, several red colored words enclosed in a rectangle of circular points appeared before her, which occasionally flickered altogether.

None other than her was able to see these words, as these came from within her mind alongside a robotic-female voice echoing in her head.

[SYSTEM] Connecting to the internal magic bodies’ network…

…

[Connected as: BP

...checking status: ACTIVE]

[Sensors: Online…

Magic: Online…

Weapons: Online...

...ALL SYSTEMS NOMINAL]

Mech’s gaze was still looking to the void while the leaf kept floating in the palm of her hand.

[Scanning properties…

Nothing found…

Strengthening magic link with nature…]

Suddenly, the little leaf stem slightly began to shine a light green color, and its various small runes shone white while her vision became gradually blurred till she was unable to see.

From afar, she started to hear...various indistinct sounds unable to comprehend what they were saying or exclaiming.

Gradually, these sounds could be heard more clearly.

Cries of pain, horror shouts, bawls...then suddenly...

“Mom…who is she?!” Mech heard a child’s frightened voice in the darkness.

There was no answer as Mech’s vision got completely clear again...

In front of her, there was a large mirror hung on a wooden wall, allowing Mech to see herself via reflection.

She was wearing a dark-blue witch hat hiding her ocher fox ears, alongside a gray mask with a sadistic smile and joyful eyes on it, covering her real face.

Mech was also wearing a yellow outfit with black sleeves and gloves.

After a few seconds of looking her reflection at the mirror, Mech saw two other humanoid figures in the mirror.

After recognizing the two’s identities...slowly her body turned completely by itself...and the scenery warped into a familiar location, a memory Mech fears.

They were in an old farmhouse living room, where there were long bloodstains around and a spooky silence through the fantasmal-like village.

Mech could not control her own body, as of now she was but a mere spectator.

Before her, there was an adult woman hugging her crying child.

“What do you want?” The woman asked trying to hide her fear looking to the wooden floor, but there was no avail.

Mech could smell their fear in the air, albeit she trying to hid it alongside her tremors.

There was no answer, even when Mech tried with all her power to break free, to break the chains forcing her to see this madness in her mind.

“We are just farmers! Please! Forgive us, we’ve done no wrong! We’re not soldiers!” The woman cried in despair as her child cried loudly.

There was no response as Mech just coldly looked through her mask while the woman kept crying, shaking in fear while hugging her child defending her.

‘Don’t do it…’ Mech said silently and helpless within her mind as she knew the incoming future for those humans in front of her.

Suddenly she could see a few words flickering on her view.

[SYSTEM: Threat: 0%]

“These targets have 0% of threat towards the Alliance of Nature. Asking re-evaluation of the mission.” Mech could hear her own voice. Though it was emotionless, cold, almost unknown even to herself.

‘You have your orders, Archangel 879. Carry. Them. Out.’ Within Mech’s mind, a somewhat familiar male voice echoed, yet Mech could never recognize it.

‘DON’T DO IT!’ Mech cried within her mind, fighting and struggling within herself trying to regain the control of her own body back.

But all her attempts were completely futile.

“Understood.” Mech’s cold voice could be heard again, suddenly...

*Raaah!*

A human, or rather, a teenager, who was hiding in a small basement under the wooden floor, jumped out of hiding to Mech with a sword in hand.

He tried to cut Mech vertically but…

She just gave a step to her right avoiding the swing and then quickly roundhouse kicked his chest, her soles of her low-heels pressed deep into his flesh as his ribs shattered and splintered bones pierced his lungs from the center via point of impact, knocking him back painfully.

“*Cough* You...monster…” The teenager said while coughing blood, yet he kept himself on his feet.

Then Mech lifted her right hand and then…

*Splat*

“NOOO!” The woman cried louder as a little blood spattered on her face just as Mech’s mask was spattered with blood as well.

There was nothing but a pool of blood left where the teenager was standing.

‘...’ Mech ceased her internal mental struggles, shocked of the brutality as she couldn't endure the scene, despite seeing it multiple times before.

*Tap tap*

Mech’s low-heels shoes echoed through the farmhouse as she turned again, looking at the woman begging for mercy.

“Please...don’t do this…” The woman begged in tears, trying to defend her children.

‘No...no...please…’ Mech said within her mind helplessly while her body lifted her right hand forward by its own.

“Please...don’t do-”

In just a second, the woman and child’s bodies deformed as their bones cracked loudly and then…

*Splat*

The blood stained the floor, the roof, and the furniture around as Mech could just cry at the horrid bloody sight of her past deeds.

She was alone and helpless; feeling a heavy and painful headache, trapped in her own mind without any control, tortured by its actions, forced to see this brutality.

Slowly her vision darkened gradually till she just could see clearly red words flickering altogether.

[SYSTEM] Disconnecting from the internal magic bodies’ network to avoid internal system damage…

All of a sudden, her vision came back together, with her eyes regaining their luster.

Mech still had the leaf floating over her palm and while observing the leaf, she sensed someone coming to her thanks to her sharp senses and her highly sensitive fox ears.

Slowly, the runes on the leaf vanished and then it stopped floating over her palm and then she awaited for whoever was coming.

After a few seconds, a young 6’ tall human officer wearing the FTC’s uniform was standing before her with a serious atmosphere to deliver her a report of utmost urgency.

“Priestess Mech!” The agitated officer spoke loudly waking up Korah while Mech by her part, just stood up calmly and then shook her tail vivaciously while softly cleaning the dirty of her skirt with her hands.

“Hoh? I permit you to speak daring Human, kukuku.” Mech said with a slightly mocking voice.

“E-Eh, the Executor has asked for your presence inside the hall, immediately!”

“Uh? Understood. Korah, get up ” Mech spoke calmly without turning.

“I know I know...” Korah said a little upset from his pleasant nap interrupted.

“We finally have something to do today!” Mech said vigorously while stretching her arms meanwhile her tail kept wagging behind her and then she put both of her hands at her back.

Korah just sighed overwhelmed by the energy of his partner.

“I am going ahead!” Mech shouted as she ran fast towards the FTC’s hall...leaving the poor officer behind her as he tried to catch up.

*** *** *** ***

“Hang on soldier! Help is coming!” Adiar said while he approached his private messenger and held his body.

Meanwhile, the officers and other soldiers around looked at the ongoing scene worried.

“Neth, what’s happening?” The Princess Caut asked from behind, slowly walking till positioning at Nethaniel’s right side.

“I don’t know, but I have a bad feeling about this...” Nethaniel said silently, but it was enough for the Princess to hear.

“That skin color...it can’t be…” The Princess said surprised with a serious expression decorating her face upon looking at the private messenger’s condition.

“What is it?” Nethaniel asked fixing his gaze on the private messenger, but still wary of his surroundings.

“Only a few known magicians are able to cast the spell...the plague of exhaustion.”

The Princess Caut explained silently to Nethaniel while Caut’s cougar ears twitched, trying to hear Adiar’s conversation.

Nethaniel’s wary eyes noticed this slight detail but just stood in silence.

Meanwhile, Adiar was trying to hear what his private messenger was trying to say.

“Misty...she...traitor...Velika...Velika is under…atta--” The messenger tried to explain with difficulty but his voice faded away, unable to breathe.

“Mech?! Where is Mech?!” Adiar shouted loudly as Mech came running between the crowd of onlookers and stopped right away upon seeing the private messenger’s condition.

“Do something!” Adiar ordered with a severe voice as his soldier’s life was slowly fading away.

Mech just looked at Adiar and then the messenger with a sad smile.

“I will do my best.” She replied as she slowly approached, crouched at his side and placed her right hand on the messenger’s chest while everyone just looked at the scene.

While on Mech’s right hand, a narrow ‘bracelet’ formed around her wrist with thousands of little runes of a white light bluish-shining color rolling apace; although just a few were able to perceive it.

Princess Caut’s cougar ears twitched again, being able to feel the soft magic flow concentrating around Mech, as her runic magic sequence kept going around her wrist.

“Mangyaring, diyosa ng buhay at likas na katangian…” (Please, goddess of the life and nature…)

Upon Mech silently uttered these words, one and a half meter diameter white-shining circle slowly formed on the floor, enclosing the messenger’s body while some runes of a forgotten language formed on its perimeter.

“Tulungan ang matapang na kawal, at bigyan ito ng isang tahimik at mapayapang kamatayan!” (Help this brave soldier, and give him a placid and peaceful death…)

Mech kept uttering some other words in an unknown language for many of the presents, excepting the Princess.

Upon saying the last word, the runes around the circle shone intensely and then they dispersed alongside the circle accompanied by a sharp sound echoing throughout the whole hall.

Messenger’s skin color went back to a healthier color but he wasn't breathing anymore.

“I am sorry, Adiar. I just made his passing painless, it was all that I could do.” Mech explained looking to the floor, invaded by an underserved guilt.

“...” Adiar just looked at her trying to hide his anger as he stood up.

On the other side…

“Though Mech was going to save him,” Nethaniel spoke silently to Princess Caut after contemplating Mech’s complex magic, although his eyes were unable to see most of it as almost everyone else.

“There are a few magics that even Mech cannot dispel,” Caut said with a serious voice, looking at Mech, knowing her feelings well.

“Uh uh? What is happening?” Bready asked upon he got there near Nethaniel, a little confused by the scene while Korah also arrived carelessly.

“Hahaha...you are a little late, Bready,” Nethaniel spoke calmly.

Suddenly, Adiar shouted loudly.

“Everyone have one minute to get ready! Velika is probably under siege and enemies should be coming this way soon!”

Upon his last word, the FTC’s hall’s atmosphere became even more agitated, as the officers were also running around, gathering their platoons and weapons, getting ready to fight.

“What? But the Iron Order is not in the FTC’s territories anymore!” The Princess said surprised.

“Group up!” Nethaniel shouted once as the FTC’s elite forces grouped up swiftly.

Mech, Caut, Bready, Korah and two others came closer to each other.

“Orders, commander.” The Princess Caut said calmly as a soldier brought up her bow and then left.

“You listened in didn’t you, Caut?” Nethaniel asked as Caut looked at him with a smile.

“You never discard any detail, uh? Well, as I heard, Misty had betrayed us and she must besieging Velika…” The princess Caut calmly explained as everyone heard attentively.

Excepting Mech, who had her ocher fox ears down, as once again she couldn't save someone.

“You can’t save everyone Mech, you did fine.” A deep male voice spoke from her right side.

This voice came out from a male Aman, Panchuk. His height was around 7’4”, and featured a very strong and tough physique.

His body had scaly brown skin and well-built muscles through all his body.

Panchuk’s face was somewhat draconic with 2 pointy horns, stern goldenrod eyes, and a really menacing expression on his face, but deep down he was very friendly and loyal soldier, with a huge sense of honor and respect towards Nethaniel.

“But…” Mech was going to speak, but Panchuk interrupted her.

“No ‘buts’! I know you for three years now! I know what you are thinking, but you are wrong. You did great.” Panchuk cheered her up.

“Hahahaha...thanks Pancho.” Mech said with a smile as she regained her esteem and then both kept hearing the instructions.

“If Adiar’s messenger is correct, we’ll be fighting a double frontline battle soon, one at Velika and one at the Free Traders’ Hall,” Nethaniel explained.

“I see...then what’s the plan?” Korah asked as he was readjusting his armor correctly.

“We will split up. Part of my royal guard, the Shrouded Rose Sentinels are in Velika, so they must have already engaged with the enemy at least once, and knowing them well, they must be holding them back for now and establishing a commanding post to regroup everyone to form a defensive front line in some choke point around Velika.” Nethaniel explained further.

“Sounds logical; I will stay here with Panchuk and Adiar then, defending this position.” The Princess said following Nethaniel’s plan.

“Good. I will take the rest of the group then and reinforce Velika.” Nethaniel agreed as everyone was already ready...while the FTC’s officers and recruits were still running around and forming their defensive lines in the hall.

“Hahahahahaha…” Nethaniel laughed silently.

“Nethaniel? What’s the funny part?” The Princess asked puzzled.

“Those lucky bastards...They must be having fun already with the enemy! Hahahahahaha…” Nethaniel said recklessly.

“Ahh...Why did I even ask…” Caut said regretting her question.

“Give them hell from my part, Panchuk! All units, move out!” Nethaniel ordered as Korah, Mech, Bready and Sinac followed him out of the FTC’s hall, towards the barn, where their horses resides.

“In your name, commander! Hehehehehe…” Panchuk said while readjusting his heavy gauntlets as he kept sheathed his great sword at his back.

“You both really have some serious issues.” Princess Caut said carelessly as she was inspecting her own bow.

“Hahahahahaha…” Panchuk just laughed.

*** *** *** ***

Twenty minutes or so after Nethaniel and his comrades left to reinforce Velika’s defenses.

Orders from Adiar and Princess Caut echoed clearly through the Free Traders’ hall while the soldiers and officers were setting the respective defensive lines to fend off the imminent enemy attack.

Suddenly when the defensive lines were still forming at the northern, east and west hall entrances …

“INCOMING!!” A FTC’s soldier shouted, as enemies wearing a white lined green uniform burst forth charging through the entrances and rushed towards the defensive lines at the entrances.

“Enlighten Union? Why are our allies are attacking us?” The FTC’s soldiers mumbled between themselves, confused by this sudden betrayal; hitting their morale heavily.

“Be ready!” The Princess Caut shouted as she pulled her bow string as much as she could while she aimed her arrow and then fired it.

The arrow directly hit an enemy soldier in the heart, taking his life in a mere second.

The enemy forces were formed by various races like Amans and a few Castanics mercenaries but mainly composed of Humans and Elves.

It was just matter of seconds, till the EU soldiers clashed with the Free Traders’ defensive lines.

“Hold the line! Don’t let them get through!” Adiar commanded his forces tenaciously; meanwhile, Princess Caut kept firing her arrows as fast as she could.

The FTC’s hall was wrapped in conflict, as swords clashed and war cries echoed through the hall.

The Enlighten Union’s forces were simultaneously attacking all entrances at once, pressing the defensive line overwhelmingly, which was barely holding back the enemy.

“Keep going!” The Princess shouted, trying to raise the morale of the troops.

But Adiar knew that his forces weren't going to hold for much more time.

“Everyone! Fall back and form a turtle formation!” Adiar shouted as the Princess Caut kept firing her arrows.

“What?! We cannot fall back now!” The Princess protested as the soldiers retreated, although not all managed to do it.

The 2000ish troops of the Free Traders were reduced to just 1100ish troops in just the first enemy wave.

Panchuk was also fighting fiercely on his side, and upon hearing the retreat order, he growled as hearing the order alone is enough for him to know how bad the situation is; And he then cut an enemy soldier in half with his two-meter greatsword length and then retreated as fast as he could.

For some reason, the enemy soldiers didn't chase them, instead, they started to form up while the turtle formation was about to be finished.

“Princess Caut, you must leave now and request reinforcements or support from your mother. The Free Traders Collective will then sort out the rest if we get out of this one.” Adiar ordered as there wasn't another way out in his mind.

“But…” The Princess hesitated, she didn't want to leave them, and she wasn't going to leave anyone behind again.

“Hehehehehe...we will be fine,” Panchuk said calmly as he moved his shoulders. “You should go, I will take care these rookies for you, lady Caut.” Panchuk laughed silently and then went to the frontal line of the formation.

“*Sigh* Alright. I promise that I will be back soon!” The Princess Caut said, although she was still worried, she still had a chance to save lives.

Then, the Princess ran took off her pocket a little blue stone and filled it with a little of magic.

“Hang on! I will bring help.” The Princess said while a dark blue circle of about 40 centimeters of diameter appeared under her feet and then it started to raise up, ‘swallowing’ the Princess, till she disappeared with the dark blue circle.

Meanwhile, the FTC’s forces completely surrounded by the EU’s soldiers on all side, hopelessly outnumbered by the enemy.

“Get ready!” Adiar shouted as every soldier readied their weapons against the oppressive numbers.

Suddenly, from the middle of the Enlighten Union soldiers, a short brown hooded humanoid, wearing a brown tunic, emerged from the crowd to present herself.

Then, she lifted her arms and removed the hood slowly, revealing the owner’s face to be Misty.

Misty was an Elin, of red eyes, purple curly hair with a pair of rabbit ears and a small cottontail.

“Hihihihihihihi…” Misty just laughed as Adiar stood his ground, looking at her with eyes of rage.

“What have you done, Misty?!” Panchuk shouted angrily.

“I opened my eyes, my dear friend. The Free Traders are soft-hearted fools and will never be able to achieve true victory. Hihihihihihi...come on Panchuk, join me! And we will win everything what we ever wanted!”

Misty shouted as the enemy soldiers were looking at her, as she was technically their commander...former commander as of now.

“I will not accept this madness, Misty! Cease your aggressions! Don’t make me hurt you!” Panchuk tried to talk her back into sanity.

“Hihihihihihihihihi!” Misty laughed sharply.

“You and what army? Hihihihihi...Ralu and Aurora have already taken Velika by now!” Misty shouted. “Just abandon your pointless resistance. This will end today.” Misty added and then lifted her left arm forward.

“CHARGE!” Misty ordered with a crisp shout. Upon her command, her soldiers shouted in response.

***RAHHHHHHH***

All the EU’s soldiers charged towards the FTC’s turtle formation pointing their weapons forward, while the FTC’s soldier braced themselves for the incoming clash.

Once again, the world was at war.

Credits to I4MD34TH for editing!