《Of Ebbs and Flows》 PROLOGUE - PART I ~ The Sea of Blades ~ [The Year 9840 in the Age of Heroes] THE CLOUDS HANG LOW ON THE HORIZON, promising heavy rainfalls that were yet to come. It looked like a storm was in the making with the first strong gusts of wind racing across the expanse known as the Sea of Blades. This was no sea filled with water and fish, but a sea of vast prairie fields. And instead of waves, there were hills creating shadows on the grass. This region encompassed an area that could hide away countries. Many brave travellers had lost themselves in this vastness of space. The Fields were renowned for their golden hues and sunsets that could be witnessed here like nowhere else. Fiery sunsets during which the sky itself seemed to be ablaze. It was as told in the tales, recounted by boisterous adventures, about the mythical Ember Plane. This was not such a time. Another grand spectacle had encroached on this region. A lone soldier holding an ornamental flag stood on the ridge of a hill nearby. His polished armour stood out, silhouetted in front of the closing dark clouds in the background. The ever increasing gusts of wind were close to shredding the beautifully crafted standard. ¡°Soldier! Come back here at once! What are you standing there for? I do hope not because of the god damn pretty views?!¡± A stern voice was heard downhill. ¡°Coming, Sir!¡± The soldier replied while hurriedly turning around and running back to his squad and squad leader. ¡°By the Five! Who is chasing that fool for making him run like a madman down that slope¡± the older squad leader murmured to his second in command. And louder he shouted ¡°What has gotten into you boy?! Did you lose your senses up there, enjoyirong the clouds? Pay attention to that spear, damn you!¡± It seemed that luck was on the side of the soldier this day. While slowing his precarious descent, he quickly checked his equipment and reaffirmed his hold on the heavy spear that took both of his hands to keep upright. On the slope of the hill the strong winds had lessened and the ornate flag hung limply next to his face. He brushed it away and continued with his descent, albeit a bit slower under the irritated glare of his squad leader. ¡°Finally, and without injuries I might add, soldier! I don¡¯t know if I should praise you or start crying for being in such a situation and considering doing the first!¡± ¡°What are you laughing at, you bunch of miscreants?!¡± The burly squad leader exclaimed. The other members of the squad had tried to hide their laugh behind their hands, some had even tried to surreptitiously turn around unable to properly hide their amusement. Their leader always had it in for their newest recruit, since him joining up the squad and war effort a month ago. Due to him not really being aproper soldier, instead having come from one of the closest kingdoms as mere farmer boy, the squad leader had it somehow taken up on himself to ¡°properly¡± educate the boy from day one. He had been relegated to the safest place of the army, at its back. There his duty was to guard and dutifully watch over the armies supply chain which followed behind. It looked like a huge snake winding around the nearby hills behind them, until it got lost on the horizon the soldier thought. He let his eyes wander and his gaze fell upon the arguably most breathtaking sight his young life had ever been able to witness. The army he was part of, the ¡°one army¡± as it was already being called by its members sprawled in front of him. Being the rearguard he couldn¡¯t even see the first ranks, this army had to have at least hundreds of thousands of soldiers. Nobody knew the exact number, some speculated that even the army generals didn¡¯t know the specifics. Maybe the five knew these things, yet such individuals were equal to gods to someone like him and he couldn¡¯t even hope to resist their presence. While the soldier was lost in the grandeur of this army, its generals were giving orders and preparing this body of man for one final confrontation. This army had been only one of the many before it that were thrown against their enemy. Until today none had been successful, suffering horrendous casualties. During the past years, the surviving units had scrambled together and had amassed to this massive force. They had learned from their past mistakes, the generals keeping their plans secret on a lever seen before. Rumour was it, that the enemies methods of repeatedly uncovering their plans and tactics had been discovered. As a consequence, the remaining generals of every remaining race had come together and had secluded themselves only reappearing not so long ago. They had lead the army here to make one final stand they had said. A final confrontation like no other. The battle of an Age. Soldiers were being called by their superiors, supporting staff checked every equipment one last time and supporting mages walked trough the ranks murmuring helpful incantations for the last time. Messenger boys and girls ran from one place to the other.. Final orders were relayed and commanding voices arose everywhere. ¡°Stand orderly! What do you think you are doing? Get back here! What is this ¡­where did you put your sword soldier?!¡± Many squad leaders were heard, shouting order into the ranks. The soldier and his squad could feel the palpable tension in the air. People of every colour were preparing themselves. Some individuals sported a wild look and had pale faces, twitching at every little sound, scared of what was to come in the next hours. And others stood there without moving, no sound escaping their closed lip, while looking straight ahead with resolute eyes. A squadron of spearmen marched by. The soldier noticed white fists tightly holding on to spears and inaudible mutters could be heard every now and then. On an open patch of land not so far away horses neighed and trotted restlessly around. Suddenly, a horn blared in the distance and the cavalrymen began galloping away, rallying towards three distinct banners that could be seen flattering on a nearby hill. The ground trembled, giving the assembled combatants a feel for the forces that were on display. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. The soldier¡¯s squad hat met up with others, forming a lager unit of men and women. The squad leader looked with a longing look after the receding cavalry. The soldier noticed this and he gave the stories he had heard more credit. At a campfire some nights ago, his squad companions had voiced the rumours about their leader having been a renowned and successful cavalry officer a long time ago. Due to an accident he had had to resign and had thrust himself into the legions instead. The soldier could relate to that feeling of longing, often he had dreamt riding a mighty war horse into battle earning glory and fame, collecting a fortune in the process. Yet this wasn¡¯t meant to be, his father and their fathers before had merely been humble farmers. They had cultivated their lands along the border of the Sea of Blades and had maintained the family¡¯s farmstead throughout the generations. Then, not so long ago, an opportunity presented itself to the soldier. Reports had preceded the army that was moving towards this region. Words of one decisive battle, deciding the fate of the known world and heralding the end of an Age and surely the rise of a new one, had dominated the evenings at the inns, taverns and local forums. The opportunity promised glory like no other and a way out for a young farm boy who dreamt of adventure. His memories were interrupted when whispers of returning scouting units, discovered by the forefront, echoed between the ranks. The marching soldier tried to raise his head looking over the gathered units. He hoped to catch a glimpse of said scouts returning, a famous and respected unit always in the midst of conflicts and adventures acting as the army¡¯s eyes and ears against the enemy. Meanwhile, his squad had finally found their intended spot situated on a slight elevation. This seemed to be the end of the hills in this area. To each side of them the elevated ground stopped, giving way to plains of grass. There seemed to be no end to it, the grass merging with the sky on the distant horizon. The Army had chosen this place for their last battle and had already started to entrench itself. The construction of fortifications and the placement of magical shields and wards was well under way. The forefront of the forces camped right behind the trenches. The visible squadrons sported different banners of its leaders, each an highly decorated officer who had proven themselves in previous battles against the foe. It was an army that seemed to have taken up the challenge with this part of the Sea of Blades about which of them had more individuals in their ranks. The soldier could see a vast number of species gathered here. He recognised men and women who stood orderly in rank and file and were geared up with different armour. He had expected to see polished and glittering armour shining in the sunlight. This had always been the case before glorious battles in the stories he had heard as a youth. Yet, today said armour seemed rather dull. The sun was hidden away, forgotten behind a thick blanket of low hanging clouds. No sunlight could shine upon the gathered carapaces and helmets. Next to men and women, to the soldier¡¯s delight, mingled the fabled dwarven warriors hailing from various clans. They were shouting illustrious profanities about their expected foe, encouraging each other and trying to lighten up the tense atmosphere. Occasionally, one boisterous voice shouted a dwarven chant in their native language and all the dwarves responded as one, shouting words back while shaking large war hammers and axes towards the skies. In the centre of the forefront stood the elegant and powerful elves, a stark contrast to the rowdy dwarves, making up the biggest number of spell casters in the army. The soldier was deeply mystified by them, he hadn¡¯t heard much about these people. Their lands were far away, on another continent he had heard. For someone who had never even ventured into the neighbouring Sea of Blades, such vast distances were unimaginable. The soldiers gaze continued but was stopped again right away by another sight. Next to the mysterious elves stood their closest allies, the proud beast folks. Individuals in their true form and various humanlike appearances were present. There were too many different kinds for the soldier to count. But his focus stayed glued at the sight in front of him, drinking in the fill of mysticism represented here. He was sure that the next awe filling recounting of events at the inns would surely be his when this would all be over. Suddenly, the ongoing burst of winds were interrupted by something strange. A number of deep recurring thumps could be heard and even felt as tremors in the air. The hairs of his youthful beard were vibrating along to this strange phenomena. Following this, various presences gradually came into existence and washed over him and all the soldiers around him, nearly making them all fall on their knees. The banner that was pinned to his spear flailed wildly around. Each new thump made it change its direction, as if the governing laws of the winds were no more. Accompanying this, a flight of wyverns and dragons dived out of the low hanging clouds announcing their arrival withbestial roars. Wyverns and especially dragons were recognised as one of the most formidable opponents in existence. Not many could hope to stand up against the wildest members of the beast folk nation. The soldiers eyes bulged and he couldn¡¯t help but follow their flight in silent stupor. The wyverns and the dragons crossed each others flight path, flying loops in the sky and breaking their fall at the last possible moment above the spear tips of the humongous army. At last they descended and landed on the army¡¯s flanks. The soldier inched unintentionally forward, seeking to discover more about the beasts straight out of legends. However, a strong grip on his shoulder rooted him in place and a gruff voice sounded out. ¡°Where do ya think you are going boy? Never have seen a dragon in your life, eh? You listen to me. And listen carefully. You stay the hell away from those creatures! To them, you are no different to a rabbit. Better to stay right here with us folks. And the same goes for those gods damn big bastards over there! How in the holy Five¡¯s names did the generals get those giants to join?! That¡¯s what I would like to know!¡± The squad leader had begun to rant, voicing his opinions to everyone present. The soldier noticed only then the solitary giants helping with the fortifications. These behemoths of nature were known to live in the most desolate of places, numerous myths and stories surrounded them. Some people even believed they were distant offsprings of the legendary Earth Titan, a living cataclysm in itself. The soldier saw each of them wearing an iron club as big as a tree on their backs and were currently tasked with impaling enormous stakes into the ground. A mind-blogging effort he surmised. A sudden stir in the army¡¯s ranks made the soldier look up searching for the unknown commotion that had to be the source. Others looked uncomfortably around, muttering under their breaths. The giants stopped their work and gazed towards the horizon, as if they had singled out the direction. Like immovable stone sentinels they stood, thought the soldier. Suddenly, people started pointing towards the horizon. Many heads turned around. On the horizon, the clear divide between the earth and the sky seemed different, flawed. Like if the earth had finally decided to stretch its previously hidden fingers towards the sky, trying to grasp the clouds. Many flocks of birds were escaping towards the sky and a blanket of silence descended upon the gathered army, underlining the severity of the sight. The silence was interrupted soon after. ¡°Soldiers! Prepare yourselves! The enemy¡­ is upon us!¡± PROLOGUE - PART II ~ The Sea of Blades ~ [The Year 9840 in the Age of Heroes] THE LUSH PLAINS, famous for their vibrant green colours in the summer months, gradually transformed. A sea of darkness glided over the grassy fields on the horizon. The Sea of Blades were slowly transformed into a monochromatic scenery devoid of any colour. Even the low hanging clouds suddenly appeared darker - menacing - promising violence to those helplessly placed under them. This disquieting change heralded the arrival of their foe. Steadily, the whole plains in front of the assembled army were filled by advancing enemies. Then, as if receiving a silent command, the unimaginably vast force began to slow and stopped. No sound had been created by the enemy¡¯s arrival. The silent approach of the outnumbering force had visibly rattled the waiting soldiers. Witnessing an impossibility, which materialised right in front of them, had taken aback even the most courageous and seasoned warrior. Only the lucky veterans of earlier battles had known what to expect. The silent hordes had been the talk of every gathering since the first sightings a long time ago. The newly gathered soldiers however, weren¡¯t prepared for this at all. Listening to something mentioned in stories around the campfire againstexperiencing it for the first time was a whole other matter. Every army created its unique sound backdrop. Magic was known to dampen or even cancel out most of the produced sounds, but it came along with a steep price in mana consumption. Only great talismans or artefacts, very rare commodities nowadays as they could only be produced by the most powerful of artificers in the once omnipotent Order of Eldris, had the required abilities imbued into them. Armies didn¡¯t use these objects as the strain on their resources would become too great. Not that any artefacts had been seen in the last years anyway. The secrets of the order, the ability to imbue mana into objects, had been lost along with its fall. An army which possessed these valuable tools however, had a powerful advantage on their side. The orderly ranks faltered for a moment, mutterings got louder and rattled soldiers looked into each others faces. In contrast, the enemy faced them in silence. Unblinking black eyes observing their every move. *** Right before the enemy¡¯s arrival, a final gathering in the command tent had commenced. The generals and commanding officers had called a meeting for one final time. Representatives of all races and elite functionaries from religious institutions and guilds had followed the call and were also in attendance. The armed forces made up the biggest part of the ¡°One Army¡±. However, various church forces had rallied here as well and numerous squadrons had been augmented by a vast number of adventurers. The Adventurer Guild had put out the call to arms right at the beginning, immediately after the first sightings of the hordes had been confirmed. The offered payment and promise of loot had been very enticing then and many had flocked to different banners creating respectable armies just by themselves. A somber atmosphere had enveloped the stuffy tent. Grim and battle-hardened faces observed each other silently, occasionally a few snippets of meaningless conversations between officers and small groups of famous adventurers could be heard. Smaller clusters of peoples stood around a massive wooden table spanning the whole width of the main tent. A large map with many figurines and markings on top was pinned on it. Usually, the mobile war-room offered a sizeable number of chairs around the table. Today they had been taken away,making room for the unusually large amount of attendees. Messengers and aide¡¯s entered and left the command tent in irregular intervals. Every now and then, new information was passed along to the nearby groupings of officers and generals or were directly placed as a note upon the central map for further consideration. The tension was palpable and everybody was only waiting for the final members to arrive. A sudden shift at the entrance and the appearance of three distinct figures drew the attention of everyone in the tent. The three individuals slowly stepped through the tent flaps and into the dim light. One of them was clearly the leader and was flanked on each side by the other two arrivals. These two offered an imposing figure. They were clad in golden armour that shimmered in the mana-lanterns light. Although their pose was non threatening in appearance, nobody in the tent assumed for a second that both of them weren¡¯t capable of sudden and overwhelming violence in a moments notice. The attendees recognised the inconspicuous sigils and runes traced upon their armour. Armour made out of the best materials and alloys and crafted by the best artificers the world had offered once. Now, the number of existing armour such as these could be counted on one hand. The creators lost to the world. Usually, the appearance of Eldris Sentinels was a cause of uproar and immediate notice in any place. After their arrival, drastic change usually followed. However, this time the crowd harboured no such feeling. Instead they visibly seemed to calm down, feeling assured in their chances of victory. Some showed rekindled hope in their eyes, nodding encouragingly to each other. As a result, all of them stood straighter around the table. Surely, the representatives of the famous Eldris Order would have something up their sleeve. The trio arrived at their designated place, on the long side of the table in-between the generals. The crowd shuffled closer together and the assembled officers in the front leaned expectantly towards them laying their hands on the tables edges. All eyes rested on the third member of the Eldris representatives. After a short pause the individual lifted their hood and an older woman with short cropped grey hairs was revealed. White streaks of hair framed an angular and stern face. Her gaze slowly wandered around the assembled people, taking in their distressed and yet hopeful expressions. Meanwhile, the tent fell into silence. ¡°Gentlemen, it gladdens me to see so many gathered here. We all know what is at stake. Scouts report that the arrival of the enemy is imminent. Nearly upon us ¡­ at last. This moment will not only be a decisive one in our lives, no¡­ This moment and the precious next hours will decide how all our futures will unfold. Will we succumb and let the world turn into a desolate mindless place? Or will we finally emerge victorious, slaying the Devourers hordes and usher in a new Age? A new Age of peace and prosperity?¡± The Eldris representative paused for amoment, looking expectantly into the gathered crowd. A supporting murmur had started, many had nodded along at the end. However, she wasn¡¯t satisfied. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Never before have we gathered so many in one place. Never before have all races gathered together in such a spectacle of force. The ¡°One Army¡±, the bards have begun calling it, so I have been told. And I agree wholeheartedly. People will speak with pride of this gathering in the future.They will speak of courageous soldiers. Of a rare breed of soldiers that came together to save the worlds.¡± The woman had begun to slowly pace around the table while addressing them.Although she spoke to them all, people felt personally spoken to. She threw herself into their midst, establishing eye contact and patting others on their shoulders. Although most were members of the many nations aristocratic circles, some had never been in such close proximity to such an important person. Everybody knew and had heard of the Eldris Order. Many had listened to the tales of their feats that were told by bards on regular occasion. And at the same time all of them had heard the unbelievable news that the Order had fallen in the first years of the conflict. Whispers of treachery had reached them all. How else could have such a powerful entity been defeated so quickly? Their inner turmoil was plainly visible to the Eldris woman. She had expected it. Even her, having access to more information then the assembled officer here, had received the shocking news years ago that her own order had dissolved into chaos. And yet, the truth behind those events was kept secret by the Eldris survivors. The Five had decreed it so. ¡°Soldiers, know this. I see the confusion and fear in some of your eyes. And yet I see great determination in them as well. Know that the Eldris Order isn¡¯t lost and the most powerful of us have also gathered here. Furthermore, I can tell you that Alvar Sotaris still walks among us and their arrival on the battlefield is assured. Harbour this knowledge in your hearts. The Five will bring the fight to our enemy and will lay waste to them all.¡± Her words had their intended effect. Even more so than her earlier arrival, she noticed. That the arrival of the most powerful individual that had ever walked the earth was imminent was the greatest boon she could give to the attended officers and therefore to their respective squadrons and the men at arms in general. The legends of Alvar Sotaris were manyfold. Every living being on all the worlds had heard of the hero foretold.Myths about their feats existed aplentyand whole nations feared their power. The figurehead of the Eldris Order had played a big part in the orders historical dominance throughout the ages. The ultimate powerhouse to deter direct conflict with the Order and to act as a neutral party in the conflicts of nations. But that had been the past. Nowadays, Alvar Sotaris was the spearhead against the Devourer and its mindless hordes, supported by four individuals known as the four elemental monarchs. Individuals that embodied the pinnacle of elemental magic and had almost reached transcendence in their paths. Together they were known as the Five. The Eldris woman had circled the whole table while finishing her speech. After she had arrived at her original place between the sentinels, she nodded towards the assembled generals in turn and took a step back. The most decorated general took it upon himself to address the crowd one final time. ¡°I thank the venerable Eldris Elder of imparting such encouraging and hopeful words onto all of us gathered here. To know that the Five will lead us into battle is of utmost importance. For all of us! And especially for the troops outside! Their heart will rejoice hearing this and they will march towards those blasted foes with pride and determination. You, who are assembled here, heralding from every corner of this world, will lead them into a glorious battle. A battle that will be sung about long after your bones have turned to ashes. Know this, the losses will be tremendous. I won¡¯t insult you with any kinds of lies. However, know that your sacrifice will not be in vain. Know that your sacrifice ensured the continuance of this worlds and its inhabitants existence!¡± ¡°Hear, hear!¡± the crowd emotionally voiced back. The General looked at their expectant faces and nodded with pride. ¡°I like what I see! And I take pride in what I see gathered in front of me, knowing that the One Army outside resembles you in every way! I, and all my fellow generals, salute you and your commitment!!¡± The general shouted the last part with palpable force and saluted his subordinates by forcefully hitting his armoured chest twice with his closed fist. He finished his salute by moving his arm in a wide horizontal arc, stopping at a right angle in front of him and letting the outstretched arm and closed fist hover there for a moment. After everybody in the crowd had mirrored him while shouting their heartfelt support over the table, he let his arm fall and sent the officers on their way. ¡°Remember my words. And let those words be heard by everyone gathered outside. Be proud of what you will be doing and victory will be ours! Dismissed!¡±
The assembled officers gradually began to disperse. Some left right away and others formed small groups before exiting the confines of the war-room. The groups made up of young adventures and officers fell at once into heated conversations. The impressionable young minds needed to loudly exchange their views and thoughts after all. The natural fear that emerges before a battle, seeded in the depths of everyone¡¯s soul, was especially present in those young officers and aristocrats. In contrast, the more veteran and experienced officers walked out in silence, deep in thought. The older generation of fighters knew, after having experienced many battles in their lives and especially in the past years, how to handle such fears before violence erupted. Even so, the youthful officers would have been surprised in knowing how many old veterans hearts were actually beating slightly faster than usual. After all, such a tremendously large confrontation like the upcoming one against the approaching hordes had never taken place in history until now. The last officers left the tent and hurriedly passed the guards standing at attention around the command tent. They briskly headed for their respective squadrons that had gathered right next to each other. This had been on purpose as the two officers were brothers heralding from a very respected family on another continent. The younger brother had insisted to accompany his older brother when he had announced his intend to answer the call of the assembling ¡°One Army¡± in front of their parents. Heralding from a family that had established themselves in their past through merits on the battlefields for their kingdom, their parents support had been assured. The Androvak House wouldn¡¯t shy away from their noble duty. This had been just months ago and now both brothers were visibly shaking in expectation. ¡°Dear brother, do you feel the same? As if everything will be possible once the horns call the charge? I can¡¯t wait to march along with Alvar Sotaris and the Monarchs themselves!¡± the younger brother exclaimed. He had always dreamed to live through the stories that visiting bards had recounted at their families feasts. ¡°Of course brother. I know what you mean. But don¡¯t forget your duty and responsibility towards your men. You have been given a great honour for leading such a great number of soldiers at your age! Make our house proud, but don¡¯t overestimate your prowess and that of your men. Keep your mind focused on the task at hand and don¡¯t loose yourself in fanciful stories. Promise me this, brother!¡±, the older sibling replied and clasped the younger brothers shoulders firmly. They had stopped for the moment in-between the gathered columns of soldiers. Suddenly, the brothers noticed a stirring traveling through the ranks, nearly all of the soldiers had stopped what they were doing and gazed towards the horizon. This was closely followed by a call echoing from the forefront of the army. ¡°Soldiers! Prepare yourselves! The enemy¡­ is upon us!¡± Both young officers stared into each others eyes and immediately jumped into action, running towards their men. PROLOGUE - PART III ~ The Sea of Blades ~ [The Year 9840 in the Age of Heroes] THE AIR WAS IN TURMOIL. The uncountable blades of grass were thrown from one side to the other. Flashes of light, each in a different colour, filled the sky. Thunderous claps of noise followed closely, trying to catch up to the lights. Yet, no storm had arrived. Another kind was responsible. The battle was in full mode, the silent staring contest at the beginning long forgotten.
After the commanding personnel had reached their respective units, the enemy had suddenly shown signs of restlessness and shortly after had begun to advance. Slowly at first, the forefront had begun to steadily increase their pace until their progression had turned into a full sprint. The characteristic black eyes of the hordes never blinked once and their eerie focus never strayed from the gathered army in front of them. The deep rumbling of the approaching mass of enemies could be felt by everyone. The captains and commanding officers had wisely used that short amount of time before the hordes sudden awakening. They had spoken about their soldiers might and valour, encouraging them while calming those that showed palpable fear in their eyes at the same time. Everybody knew that a battle like no other was upon them, the battle of an Age. The first ranks of the One Army, composed of veteran warriors, began to advance right away, positioning themselves three hundred paces in front of the army and the built fortifications. When the warriors stopped, huge spears and shields - covered in softly glowing runes - materialised in their hands. The warriors, as one, took hold of their spears and pushed them at a slight angle into the dry ground. The ground couldn¡¯t withstand the power of these warriors and gave away. The foremost rank took up the shields and planted them right in front of them in the ground, overlapping them in turn. Those warriors were the strongest by far, having successfully endeavoured on their respective Warriors Path. The warriors were scarcely covered. Only a few wore a tunic and bulky vambraces on their forearms. Their bulging muscles rippled with every movement and couldn¡¯t be contained by regular armour. The ¡°Barbarians of the North¡±, heralding from the northern reaches of the Andros continent, were renown for their battle prowess and physical might. The perfect first defence against the advancing hordes. While the northern barbarians formed the shield wall, many groupings of men and women were formed behind them. They were mainly composed of strong mages that were protected by the mighty giants. The giants held shields the size of a small house, creating an imposing wall. The mages stood on earthen mounds just a few steps behind the giants and had an unobstructed view of the advancing enemy. The previously constructed fortifications of intermittently impaled stakes stood between the northern barbarians and these mobile mage forts. They had been placed in a specific pattern, with the intention of funnelling the mindless hordes into chosen corridors.
The soldier had felt the commotion suddenly erupting everywhere around him, just before he could detect the horde advancing towards them. He had seen their squad leader jogging towards the assembling group of other captains forming around the newly returned commanding lord of their squadron. He had addressed them and had gesticulated wildly around, often pointing towards their enemy while nodding encouragingly. The squad leader had returned soon after, calling the small group to him. ¡°Listen closely lads! The lord has just told me that a high and mighty trio of Eldris Elders has arrived. They have assured the imminent arrival of the Five. The Army will rejoice in knowing this, I¡¯m sure. In the meantime, we are to hold our position and fight tooth and nail agains those mindless husks. Luckily, this will fall to the experienced warriors of the army for now¡­ But do not lose your wits and keep your eyes peeled. A battle is never a safe place, even here at the back. Never forget this, everything can happen! You hear me?!¡± the burly squad leader exclaimed. The soldier, the rest of his team and the surrounding units had listened closely to him. They had all reacted with awe and joy to the news of the Five, but had regained grim faces while listening to the man relating the lords words. Many had experienced battles before and were currently quite happy to be situated at the back of the army, ¡°only¡± guarding the supply wagons. However, they understood their captain and had already said as much to their unexperienced companions. The soldier had heard the words. He had even understood the hidden message behind them. And yet, he couldn¡¯t help but shake from excitement. `The Five are coming and I will be fighting alongside them. Oh, how my friends at home will gape at the stories I will be able to tell them. I will never have to pay for food and drink in my life again!¡¯ he thought and rejoiced. His moment of joy, however, got interrupted. He and his squad mates turned at the same time. Above the commotion that such a gathering of people always produced, they could hear the first clashes of weapons and the discharge of mighty magic. The first cries, full of anguish, weren¡¯t far behind.
The ground trembled beneath the weight of thousands of feet pounding against the dry dirt. The lush and verdant stretch of the Sea of Blades in front of the horde got trampled down, never to be seen again. Unblinking black eyes were nearly upon the forefront of the ¡°One Army¡±, when a sudden ear-piercing cry erupted from their midst and a shock wave of sound was hurled against the fortified shield wall. The attack was visible to everyone, a murky wave that instantly crossed the remaining empty space between them and fell upon the resolute warriors. The majority withstood the attack - barely. Some were thrown back and others crumpled down, blood flowing from their eyes and ears. A moment later, the first wave of enemies swept over them and chaos erupted. The Souleaten threw themselves upon the shield wall. Mana-constructs and magic were battering against the opposing shields. However, the shield wall was holding on. The enemy hadn¡¯t been able to create any breaches - yet. But some places were in much worse shape than others. These places were the ones where the previous sound attack had hit the worst. The horde noticed this and augmented the assault even further. Yet, they did not scream. They did not falter. They were not human in a sense, not anymore. They were flesh and bone, yes, but empty. They were known as the black-eyed husks or as the Souleaten in academic circles. Soulless and mindless, driven only by the cruel will of their commanders - hidden among them - and the evil entity that controlled them all. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. The smell of sweat and blood was steadily growing stronger. Fallen warriors laid on the ground. Some were still alive, desperately trying to get up again and were continuously being pushed back down into the mud. The risk of drowning in the mud was very real. Mud that was made of the previously dry soil, the steady stream of freely flowing blood and the excrements of dying warriors. Every time someone trampled on a dead body, the same released a flow of blood that seeped into the soil. The survivors gave way step by step in the hope of reorganising themselves and closing ranks. But the bulwark was starting to have too many holes. Shields weren¡¯t locked anymore and the shield wall broke soon after, accompanied by the sound of resolute warriors shouting their unrelenting defiance in the face of death. The hordes crashed one final time against the line, like a flood bursting through a failing dam. The remaining defenders, in small groups or even by themselves, heaved against the press of bodies one final time. They shoved their shields into the twisted unblinking faces of the foe and impaled one last enemy before being consumed by the silent tide.
The horde did not slow and continued onwards. Few moments later the mass of bodies reached the first stakes. The mindless individuals tried to circumvent the fortifications but didn¡¯t succeed. As if the mind commands weren¡¯t fast or precise enough. However, the horde was vast and it continued advancing without slowing down. Two hundred paces had been heavily fortified and many stakes displayed enemies gruesomely impaled on them. Horns sounded and the call for receiving the foe echoed through the body of soldiers that had gathered as the second forefront after the first had fallen. The first ranks, in turn, took their positions and prepared for the imminent impact which soon followed. The soldier had been a silent observer through all of this, no words could accurately describe what he was feeling. The reality of what a battle entailed had left him speechless. He observed the first brutal moments of the battle and the subsequent defeat of the imposing barbaric warriors. Even he had heard tales of their might and savagery. But the onslaught of the horde had eclipsed anything that any tale could have depicted in his mind. At this moment, he felt quite lucky that he had been delegated to guard the army¡¯s back. He observed the foe¡¯s progress and the clash of arms that emerged soon after. *** A soldier drove his blade deep into the gaping mouth of one of the Souleaten, his sword point erupting from the back of its skull in a spray of crimson and shattered bone. He kicked the body free, turned around, and was decapitated in turn by a passing foe. The head fell into the mud, the surprised expression forever frozen on his face. A vengeful shout escaped the lips of the decapitated soldier¡¯s brother in arms, who sliced the foes belly open in turn. A cut so fast that only a blur had been visible, proving the fortitude of said soldier. However, the thing did not even react as its entrails spilled out in steaming ropes, simply taking another step forward before a random spear drove through its throat from behind, ending its life. To the soldiers left, a glowing adventurer swung a great war-axe in wild, brutal arcs. He cut through limbs, cleaved torsos in two and occasionally split helms with every savage heave. His bare torso glistened from all the sweat that was pouring down from him. He was able to clear a small circle around him, the dead piling on ever growing mounds. Still, the first squadrons were being pushed back, inch by agonising inch. Suddenly, the pressure somehow lessened although there were still many enemies around and many fights continued. Unoccupied soldiers looked up in wonder, not fathoming the cause. Some relaxed their posture slightly, others started looking around or tried helping up fallen comrades. Then a second wave hit with even greater force. It was not like the previous onslaught - a rabid mass of thoughtless flesh. No, the commanders among the horde had waited for just such a moment of weakness, and now they led the next charge themselves. Towering figures, clad in glowing armour, wielding massive weapons. They cut through their own ranks to reach the struggling defenders. A massive brute of a man impaled a warrior, who had just gotten his footing back. The impact crushing steel and ribs alike. Another commander, wielding a massive broadsword, attacked the glowing adventurer. Their clashes generating mana shockwaves that incinerated bystanders in a certain radius. The vanguard wavered. Men and women who had stood firm moments before now bled and screamed or had already perished in droves. The One Army¡¯s banners on the forefront, held high at the onset, plunged as their bearers were torn apart. Many parts of the line gave away, buckling beneath the sheer momentum of the charge. The adventurer had prevailed over his foe and tried to rally the remaining soldiers of the now fallen squadrons. He bellowed orders, voice hoarse, spitting blood from where the gauntleted fist of the defeated commander had split his lip. He cut down another husk, shoved a dying man aside to step forward, trying - desperately - to hold the line. But the second forefront of the One Army succumbed to its fate and was crumbling. The adventurer twisted to parry another blow but slipped. His foot found no purchase on the gore-slicked ground. He went down hard and barely had time to raise his blade before a dagger sought his throat. He caught the attacker¡¯s wrist, muscles straining, teeth grinding as he forced the blade away by inches. But the husk bore down, empty eyes unblinking, unfeeling. Then, suddenly, it jerked, a sword bursting through its chest from behind. The adventurer shoved the body away from him, just as another figure pulled him up. Another adventurer, eyes wild, with a face smeared with blood - her right ear was missing - shouted at him. ¡°We can¡¯t hold this!¡± she exclaimed, parrying a wild strike. ¡°We need to fall back to the main force! Now!¡± The adventurer nodded and materialised with his will a special horn that his commander had given him in preparation for just such a moment. He took a deep breath and blew a desperate call for retreat. Those who could break away from their fights did. They turned in ragged, chaotic steps, trying to disengage without exposing themselves entirely. Some turned and ran, others still fought, and others fell where they stood, swallowed whole by the relentless advance of the horde. Bodies were trampled to pulp, shields discarded, weapons broken. Those who could not move fast enough found themselves cut down from behind, their screams joining the rising cacophony of death, horns blowing and retreating soldiers shouting. Answering the call for a retreat, a new defensive line was formed just behind the mobile mana-forts. Two forefronts had been implemented by the generals. They had known that it was only a short delay of the inevitable. The horde eclipsed the One Army after all. However, the plan had been to give the assembled mages the much needed time to create a massive spell-construct that had been gathering mana since the first moments of the battle. The adventurer passed the mana forts and continued on until reaching the main body of the army. Gasping, sword trembling, he turned just in time to see the last of the retreating soldiers being enveloped by the approaching foe. The female adventurer limped to his side, blood dripping from a gash in her thigh, while the One Army¡¯s main body bristled with spears, bows drawn or hands glowing with forming spells. Everybody looked on with grim expressions, preparing for the next clash. The battle was far from over.