Wars Never Stop for Post

Maria held down her veil as a gust blew by. The winds were heavy as the group traversed the road through rolling hills. They seemed tense, but considering they had entered contested territory, it came as no surprise. Though something far more important occupied Maria’s mind.

“Do you think we can find a post station?” Maria asked.

“Maria, there are active battles taking place throughout this region…” Thomas said. “It’s essentially a war zone.”

“Yes, but little Toby’s birthday is coming up. I must send a letter.”

All her companions could reply with were dry chuckles and blank expressions.

The sound of trotting horses echoed over the hill before a group of armored men came to view. Maria immediately asked for directions to the nearest messenger falcon.

“A courier station?” one of them scoffed. “The town further up ahead, past the eastern ridge, but I wouldn’t recommend it right now unless you have a death wish.” They rode off without a glance.

Maria happily headed toward the distant town, ignoring the rising smoke. As they continued in route, the effects of war became more prominent. Farmhouses lay abandoned, and families with fatigued faces pushed carts on the dirt roads heading away.

A soldier limped by, avoiding anyone’s gaze, but Maria didn’t let him pass until he was healed. When she asked about the conflict, he seemed rather unsure himself.

“Many have long stopped questioning when the bloodshed started,” he said. “I fought because my father died in this feud… I’m hoping to avoid the same fate.” He thanked Maria and vanished past the hill behind.

“They no longer even know why they fight…” Maria muttered.

“That’s what becomes of these types of conflicts,” Thomas said. “What begins as a simple land inheritance dispute eventually gets lost through cycles of retribution.”

“An eye for an eye, huh,” Kaelan muttered.

“If one loses the honor of battle, it’s no different than senseless bloodshed…” Celeste gazed at the clear sky above. “Perhaps only a hero can bring such a thing to an end.”

Maria continued onward. She couldn’t possibly heal every single soul in the whole war-torn region, but whoever she could help along the way, she’d do so without hesitation.

The group traversed the eastern ridge, with the town drawing ever nearer. They paused when distant shouts became clear, and the rising smoke grew thick. In the valley below, arrows swooshed through the air, and swords clashed against one another.

Celeste watched with wide eyes. Her golden ponytail violently swayed in the high winds. “It’s a true battlefield!”

“...We’re turning around,” Kaelan said.

“But the courier station.” Maria pointed past the chaos. “The town is just across… I’m sure they’re in need.”

“There’s nothing that can be done, Maria…” Thomas said. “It’ll take us a bit ways off King’s Road too, but there should be a detour farther back. We can take the back roads to leave this region.”

Maria’s eyes lingered on the conflict below. Bodies tumbled over with grave injuries. The men held anger in their expressions, fear, and confusion. Just as the soldier had mentioned, most probably no longer even remembered why they fought.

“Maria,” Kaelan called out as the group turned.

After brief hesitation, she nodded and took a step back toward the group. The high wind roared once more. Maria planted her boots firmly on the side of the ridge. The ground was soft, battered from passing storms.

Maria’s eyes went wide as it crumbled underneath.

It took less than a second for Kaelan to lunge forward, but his hand didn’t reach. She slid down the muddy hill, landing in the clearing below.

The banners of House Valen and House Ardent waved on horseback, and their vanguards clashed violently. At first, Maria was more irritated than anything else. Mindless men run around, blind to anything but the enemy they faced.

She frowned. "Could you please stop shouting? You're making an awful lot of noise.” Her words only reached deaf ears.

But as Maria wandered through the battlefield, the scent grew heavy with sweat and blood. Grief-ridden faces ignored the fact that what they faced was another living being. Another person with a whole life. Family waited for them. Wives, children. Fathers and mothers.

There was too much pain and suffering. Many were far too young, not much older than Leo back at the chapel.

She stared at the surrounding chaos. “Could you please stop… such needless bloodshed?”

Most soldiers seemed blind to her presence as their swords sliced each other’s flesh and clanged against armor.

One man crashed into her, making both of them tumble on the ground. He quickly recovered his sword and turned to Maria. His strike froze upon seeing a young nun and not another soldier.

“What are you—?” The man’s words stopped abruptly.

Maria watched helplessly as a swift arrow struck his head. A streak of blood splattered on her tunic. The man fell motionless. No amount of healing she’d try would ever bring him back.

She strained to ‌stand, but remained frozen with a downcast gaze.

Something zoomed through the air, coming right at her; another stray arrow. She should’ve ducked or thrown herself back on the ground. A protective barrier, like the type she instinctively cast onto her companions without so much as a mutter. But she couldn't. Kaelan had been right; just a moment of defenselessness, a moment of hesitation would be her downfall.

There was no time to pray; all Maria managed was to shut her eyes in a flinch. A swoosh arrived and a sharp cling vibrated in the air in front.

Roars of men continued to echo around her, but no pain arrived.

Maria peeked through an eye. A shadowed figure stood in front, daggers drawn. The stray arrow lay on the ground.

She smiled. His dark hair was messier than usual.

“Are you okay?” Kaelan asked.

She nodded softly. “But why are you…?”

“You expect us to leave you behind on a battlefield?” He gestured to Celeste and Thomas, who tried to clear a path.

Maria flashed a pained smile. She almost felt guilty that joy filled her chest upon seeing her companions. But the fact remained that they endangered themselves by going after her. She endangered them. She should’ve been more careful, should’ve listened earlier.

Kaelan gave her hand. “Come on!”

The two rushed through the chaos. Maria's eyes hung on countless soldiers with pained expressions.

“They're hurting each other because they're hurting,” she said.

“It’s no use,” Kaelan said. “They’re blinded by rage.”

“...By rage, by grief… everything in between.”

Clinging steel echoed all around; the shouts almost became deafening. As the battle thickened, anything that moved became a target. Her companions tried to break through, but soon found themselves in danger.

Celeste parried countless strikes. “I’ll show you all how a true Hero ends a war!” she shouted, while Thomas shot spells of fire behind as a group of soldiers chased him. Kaelan stuck to Maria, repelling any soldier that crossed her path.

The fighting grew ferocious with each passing minute.

“No more…” Maria paused.

“Maria? We can’t stop.”

She shook her head. “I have to stop this.”

Upon locking eyes with her, Kaelan released his tight grip. Maria could still feel its warmth.

“No more fighting.” She dropped to her knees on the damp ground, clasping her hands. “Great Goddess Elyra, bringer of the First Light…”

Her divine magic spilled out with a radiant glow, giving pause to some of the nearby fighting. The gusty air swirled with specks of gold as she continued in prayer. A large magic circle morphed beneath her; filled with shining concentric rings and symbols that only the gods could hope to understand.

“I implore you… please, bring clarity of heart to this chaos that surrounds us!”

A wave of divine light surged outward. It blanketed horses and wounded in a sheet of gold; footsoldiers and commanders alike, unbiased to any side. A subtle hum filled the space until the entire battlefield—the entire valley—was enveloped in warmth.