To Where it All Began

We stood at the edge of the base of the mountains of southern Brenna. The military had fashioned something of an encampment, but with everything ready to be picked up by horse wagons and evacuated at a moment’s notice, and all personnel at the ready to leave as well.

Before, Siege’s presence on the sky made any military exercises a dangerously risky endeavor, but with him gone, now was the golden opportunity, even if uneasy. Siege was focused in one place, and was outside of the country. He was now guarding, rather than attacking. If there was any luck left for us, this would be the beginning of a counter attack.

For this to take place, soldiers and adventurers alike from all across the Kingdom of Holy Brenna had gathered in this campsite, bringing in some of their own supplies. We were, at that time, just around a force of five-hundred strong.

In my world, depending on the time and era, this would not have been that high a number. However, in this world, the true backbone of the military was not in its men. It was in its monsters.

For that end, there were beastmasters among the ranks of the soldiers as well. Several of them. There were squads of chimeras, there were squads of trolls, as well as some of griffins. There was a solid bulk of wolf-like monsters as well. Those would be the main meat for the grinder, I supposed.

Leading and orchestrating this counter attack was Count Victor. He stood at the forefront of the camp, gazing into the path beyond the mountains: The Kingdom of Akhronna.

“Are we sure that this will be a direct march?” I asked him. “Akhronnan King will be sure to respond to a foreign invasion.”

“If he can get out from his grave, then maybe,” said Count Victor.

“The Akhronnan King is dead?”

“Goodness. Forgive me, Bastion. I sometimes forget that you are relatively new to this world. The Akhronnan King is dead. He has long since been. Only now, there is a power struggle between the heirs to the throne. That kingdom is fragmented. They do not have it in them for a cohesive, organized respond. If it were not for that Master Croghan, they would have been unable to defend against the invasion from the Ranolkian Empire.”

“I see. So, Ranolkia struck first?”

“It is not such a simple thing. I understand that people from your world have very clear borders among their countries. This world is very different. Akhronna and Ranolkia have been at odds for a long time, disputing who’s territory is who’s. However, now that the Akhronnan crown is in question, the Empire took it upon itself to strike for an opportunity to take back contested territory.”

“It did not end well.”

“Indeed. They anticipated a response, but not to the degree that we have now seen.”

“What about the Ranolkian Empire, right now?” I asked. “They have been attacked by Siege and Akhronna. Won’t they try to attack Brenna while the country has its guard down?”

Count Victor sighed with concern.

“I hope not,” he said. “If they have any mind behind strategy, they will not try to do anything underhanded. I, however, do not count on the intelligence of people when it comes to making such important decisions. Greed is a difficult beast to reign in. Opportunism is often disguised as ambition and leads far too many times to a place best not visited.”

We gazed towards the horizon together.

“And is what we are doing right now opportunism, or ambition?” I asked.

“Who knows?” he replied. “We are waiting for reinforcements from the Ranolkian Empire to make a joint effort in our invasion of Akhronna, but I am not entirely sold on their loyalty just yet.”

“And now that I think of it,” I said, “why do you believe that Akhronna attached Brenna in the first place?”

“It was the price for neutrality,” said Count Victor. “Akhronna has a with-us or against-us mentality. When Brenna refused to assist Akhronna in the war against Ranolkia, Akhronna made its wrath made known. And now, they will feel the response.”

As we were exchanging words, a large company of soldiers came marching from the mountains to the northeast of us. At first was cause for alarm… until we saw their flags. They had a yellow tree and a dark green background. They were from Ranolkia.

“That’s the Empire,” I said.

“Just in time,” said Count Victor. “I was losing my patience.”

The Empire army marched close to our own and set out a clean perimeter for themselves. Like us, they had hundreds of soldiers, and several monsters on top of that to form the backbone of their army.

“Stay here, Bastion,” said the Count. “I have no idea how they will react to you.”

Count Victor picked up his staff, and headed directly by himself, with some honor guard, towards the army of the ranolkians.

I stayed behind in the camp, taking my seat on a bonfire just beside Sybille, and Leona, who was merrily napping with her belly up and without a care in the world.

“We really are about to invade,” I said.

“I never would have thought that we would end up like this,” said Sybille. “Not just attacking Akhronna… but having help from the Empire too?”

“We cannot let the Master continue his ways,” I said. “This world… it is a kind world. I do not want to see it ruined by war too. Siege is from Earth, like me, and I know far too well what we earthlings are capable of.”

Sybille rested her head on her knees.

“Gaia…” she said. “Earth, as you call it… how is it like?”

I looked up at the sky.

“The planet was beautiful,” I said. “The people… we did not know how to take care of it. We were too busy in our day to day that just surviving made it impossible to tend to the needs of one another. Maybe if we could have gotten along better, and made an effort to help each other, things could have been better over there. But with just the greed of a few, it became a difficult place to live in.”

“Hmm… just with a few bad people?”

“Most people were normal, just minding their own business. But some bad people had a knack for getting into positions where they could make the lives of those beneath them miserable.”

“Well, it is not that different over here… I think. I am not sure about Earth, but we are in this situation because of one man, remember?”

“Yeah. That is true.”

Unfortunately, our little talk had to be cut short. It was not just Leona’s loud snoring interrupting us, but also the arrival of officers from the Ranolkian Empire.

He was a tall man, boasting flowing golden hair and green eyes. He was accompanied by Count Victor.

“That is him, isn’t it?” said the man.

“He is,” said the Count. “His name is Bastion. He is a registered Silver Rank adventurer, and though he is from Akhronna, he has long since defected to the Kingdom of Holy Brenna. We can trust him in this mission.”

“Hmm…” said the officer.

Sybille stood up.

“Is something the matter?” she asked.

“I am Lieutenant Alistair,” said the ranolkian officer. “It has been brought to my attention that a craft of war from the Kingdom of Akhronna is here in the capacity of a warrior. What assurances do we have that it won’t turn on us? Is there no possibility that the Akhronnans will not activate some mind control mechanism to make it turn on us?”

“There were some runes engraved in him to allow that, in the past,” confessed Sybille. “But I erased them. I was there at the moment of his creation, and know everything about him. Does that satisfy you?”

The officer stroked his chin.

“Truly?” he asked.

“Truly.”

“Hmph. Very well. I will believe you for now. And now, Bastion, was it? Why are you fighting against your creators?”

I stood up as well to answer him. Even as I stood, he was almost reaching my height. Lieutenant Alistair sure was rather tall for a human.

“I want to fight the Master Croghan and his creations,” I said, “simply because it would make me famous.”

Silence struck though the campsite, broken only first by the passing of the winds. Even Sybille was awestruck.

“Are you completely stupid?” said Alistair. “Or just insane?”

“Yes.”

Count Victor palmed his head, and Alistair groaned with disappointment.

“Forget it,” said Alistair. “You are clearly not a creature of intellect. I will return to my forces now.”

Count Victor and Sybille stayed behind with me while Alistair went back to the side of the Empire army.

“Bastion…” said Sybille.

“Esteemed ReConstruct,” said Victor. “Was that answer a serious one?”

I laughed.

“Oh, no, it wasn’t,” I said. “I just wanted him away from me. I am doing this because I want to protect my home. That, and…”

I turned towards Sybille as I fell to a silence.

“Hmm?” said Sybille, tilting her head.

“Ah,” said Victor. “So that is how it is. Forgive me for intruding. Now… with the Empire forces at the ready, we will march soon towards the tower. Be ready.”

With that, Sybille tapped at the ground with her staff, smacking a rock near Leona’s head.

“Wake up!” said Sybille.

“Mr….” groaned Leona. “Five more hours.”

“Hours?!” said Sybille. “Get on your feet already!”