Chapter 31:
My will shall resonate in this stormy game
Since I can remember I have lived to serve and I did not like the idea at all, I participated in the fights for territory in the early days, I was taught since I was little, that peace was an illusion that could be easily broken with the simple act of shedding blood and that is why we abhor blood with force, but unlike the countless in my tribe I felt fascination, when the cursed kingdom came to the lands of my tribe, they came with gifts and a promise, a lie that we all accepted "Freedom".
My entry into school was interesting, I understood writing, to read and even to be able to interpret words in more than one way and as time passed, the illusion of peace blinded me, in my tribe, everyone had grown fat, war was no longer a part of them, instead, the harvests the crops, there were barely a handful of us left who still practiced for the days of war, which never came, the elders died, the few who followed me, did it more for fun than because they thought of war as something necessary.
“Times have changed.” My words came out of me, as I surrendered to the idea of seeing war again.
When I finished school, I learned about the famous guilds, the merchants wanted protection from bandits, but I never got to see such guys, the mercenary guilds, on the other hand, those were much more worth keeping in mind, I went to unknown places, I fought in the name of King Fix, I shed blood, without being judged, on the contrary I was praised, as a warrior without equal and to the same extent that I won battles, I received rewards, weapons, metal armor, training in tactics and a book, at first this reward did not seem worthy of my achievements.
“Seriously, my effort only cost a measly book?” He was outraged to see the red cover with barely any letters he couldn’t even understand.
"This one in particular cannot be obtained anywhere without the consent of a Herald, young man. I recommend you consider whether this book is worth more than everything you are currently carrying," the messenger pointed out as he left.
“Let’s see.” I didn’t think twice and released the seal.
In the first pages, I understood the value of the book, a manual for waging war; if there was any occasion for doubt, it had passed long ago.
As I read it I was fascinated, beyond the complex words and the elements that seemed like filler to me, it contained fairly basic rules for waging wars, I had a handful of followers, who followed me more for wealth than for any other reason, but with that manual memorized I noticed how it caught on a white fire that didn't burn me, I tried to clean it with water or earth, but the book kept burning and soon I remembered the words of that messenger, only with the authority of a herald could it be acquired and since he knew everything, no matter what he did it was just paper that was consumed.
The war came, very close to the border, in a Kingdom called Runa, I did not hesitate and I left, I had to be the first on the front, I had to show my worth before our King and when I arrived, I saw it, a real war, one that was worth it, my small group and I left with all the haste we could have, the clothes on the road were more dangerous than the people themselves and although much of what was written in the manual was useful, the beasts were fierce and cunning in equal measure.
None of that changed when we reached the walls, we razed the defenses, more and more warriors put themselves at my service, willing to claim some of the glory that we wanted to recover and I raised the guild flag at the North entrance, a small bird on fire, ascending, and countless less clear background, but without a doubt the time had come to claim what belonged to us and when the reinforcements arrived, Runa was taken, I noticed how within the walls there were betrayals and houses willing to give in to us.
I personally confronted the king of those poor lands and carried the crown to the entrance of the territory. In such an incredible conquest, someone equally important had to arrive, and it was no surprise to see him. In fact, he had fought by my side during the battle and I hadn't even realized it.
“Who exactly are we waiting for?” the masked man asked.
I looked at the one who was winged next to me, as he considered company pleasant, until the arrival of the king for whom I fought and shed blood. “Does this war seem important to you?”
"It is".
“Then our King will come to claim his new crown.”
“It’s not exactly the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen, but it’ll cost a few coins.”
"It's not about its monetary value, it's about the effort that went into claiming it." He placed the crown in front of him. "We fought and bled, we killed the same way. Our King claims this poor land and with it everything within it. This crown represents that authority. I must give it to him no matter what."
“I see.” He removed his mask, revealing a very faint scar running from his neck to his chin.
I wouldn't have been mistaken, but I didn't feel exactly arrogant like I had a little while ago and on one knee I handed him the crown.
“My King, I present the crown to you.” I took the crown, and then I felt it on my head. “M… my king?”
“Your accomplishments haven’t gone unnoticed. Of the eight tridents heading toward Runa, you were the only one who managed to get there first and not only win an entrance, but also decimate the defenses. Furthermore, from what I see, time is treating you well.” He turned and ordered us to continue. “Times change. Runa was once a fortress kingdom. The Holy Faith sent countless resources to confront the problems emanating from the portals in the forest, and soon more monsters will arrive to claim our conquest.”
I didn't think much about it, and I arrived inside, along with the few others present, when I noticed the celebration, even with some wearing the Santa Fe clothing.
“Greetings to you, Warlord and new General of Runa!” They all shouted at once.
That day I felt the pride that only someone who is acclaimed can feel and I formed new militias the next day, I put order, I restructured everything, but as I did not feel up to the position, the Emperor called a council, I would occupy the seat of war and I defended Runa as if it had been my homeland, more than once I left for the famous portals from which came incomprehensible horrors and difficulties that are not pleasant to remember.
I learned how the creatures acted, a manual was written in my own hand, at the height of my pride I ordered a raid inside the portal, we passed and did not die by whatever miracle the gods had decided, but inside we found the war that we did not want to remember even when we left.
Warriors clad in skin and red armor, blood bathing their bodies, cried out in veneration to a Saint who lived in blood and to a God who used bones to create white thrones, the sand became treacherous, enemies came out of it, I regret that my troops had followed me, for more discord, the portal closed when only a handful of us remained inside.
We survived for days and found another portal to leave, our luck wasn't much better, the Arel tribe was cannibalistic, we fought and won, we claimed prisoners of war and supplies, we left, like wayward mercenaries, we found merchants and managed to pay our way back and when we found a merchant from the cursed Kingdom we confirmed our past and present, the year we had missed, the new war seat claimed my place in Runa.
He proved himself up to the task, and although he was officially still alive, it didn't change the fact that I had abandoned my duty, and I was disappointed to learn that it was so easy to replace me, but at the same time, my father's words resonated loudly in my mind.
“All that’s left is for a little blood to be shed for the illusion of peace to disappear.”
And that happened, the new mercenary guild there was attacked by the same monsters we saw inside the portal, worshippers of Mars and the god of war Ares, we fought bravely, my warriors resumed their learning and I fought as the leader, I proved my worth once again and they gave me the position of instructor of the forces against the war cultists, but I was clear about one thing, what we faced was not natural, the endurance, the way the sand supported them, there was no darkness or light, it was simply the desire to continue fighting, I admired it and was horrified in equal measure.
I fought with courage and strength, I faced so many and still Runa was losing, the second siege of Runa was devastating in the heat of battle I understood what they felt when I attacked, in a last act of survival, I knelt, half dead before who seemed their leader, they took me as a prisoner, runes marked on my skin and to war, against whom I swore to defend and yet I didn't seem to care, but I swore to myself that I would take the head of my predecessor, that he died for another group similar to ours, it only made me furious, I claimed command of both groups and we left for a more distant calling.
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