The 100 Days War - Chapter 1

The Holy Empire of Themis was no more.

Flying high above every tower, every castle and every city were bolts of black cloth with blood-red satyr skulls sewn onto them.

In just a week, an ancient kingdom had been destroyed and a new one had risen.

2nd Prince Augustus lamented this fact as he sat in his battered tent, a half-drunk cup of wine in his hand.

Word had reached him of his parents’ deaths and of the oppression his people were suffering, but he was powerless to save them.

He, like all the other refugees from Themis that had evaded the Demon Emperor’s forces, were being housed in a large camp on the western border of the empire, where they were under the care and supervision of Lord Oliver Bernhamm of the Kingdom of Rhodes.

The newly formed Free People’s Alliance, made of the nations in the west of Aangapea, had sent much aid, but their forces remained firmly across the border from the Demon Empire.

From their camp, they could see the border fort of Atryus and the legions of undead, demons and elves that guarded it.

At first, Prince Augustus had tried to rally the surviving members of the Holy Legion to arms in a desperate assault to reclaim their lost home, but, out of the two-thousand soldiers, few desired to fight.

They had seen first-hand the Demon Emperor’s cruelty the day the capital city of Themis fell, and rumours had reached them about the harsh pacification going that was attempting to stamp out the remaining flames of rebellion.

“Your majesty, with all due respect, we know your pain and mourn with you. But we cannot hope to defeat that monster!”

Augustus scowled as he recalled those words.

“You don’t think I know that?!” He threw his glass at the ground and ground his teeth.

Realising what he had done, Augustus collected himself, took a few deep breaths and sighed.

He couldn’t act rashly or get angry; he had to stay calm, and he had to look after his sister, Aelia, who had escaped with him.

His parents’ final hope was that at least they would be safe, to keep their bloodline alive with the dream of being able to reforge the great Holy Empire one day.

However, his heart felt heavy.

His parents were dead, and he didn’t know if the rest of his siblings had joined them or had suffered even worse fates.

His brother, Julius, had been fighting on the frontlines the day the capital fell, but everyone else had been captured or killed just after Augustus and Aeila escaped.

I need to know what happened to them!

That was at the core of the genius prince’s feelings.

He did not care for his old home, nor did he truly want to restore his country.

He wanted to save his family because, in his mind, that was all he could do.

Augustus knew he couldn’t restore the empire, not with his current strength and position, so he’d do the only thing he could do.

He would save his family.

Prince Augustus laughed bitterly as even that felt like an impossible dream. “How can we ever overcome such destructive hatred?”

On his hands and knees, Augustus prayed to the Great Goddess Themis, begged her to protect his family and guide them to victory, like he had every day since Themis fell.

But his prayers were never answered.

Nonetheless.

“Maybe if I pray for longer, she’ll answer me.”

The prince continued to pray.

“If your Saint was going to answer your prayers, she would’ve done so already.”

Annoyed, Prince Augustus turned around and found someone standing inside his private tent.

“Who are you?!”

“Forgive the interruption, your majesty, but my name is Count Arlan Barthlow and I come on urgent business.”

Augustus knew his name, for his reputation proceeded him, but he’d never had the pleasure of meeting him in person.

One of the most famous, and infamous, lords of the Kingdom of Rhodes - Count Arlan Barthlow.

He was a handsome man with short ginger hair, bright blue eyes and a charming smile that made even Prince Augustus’s heart skip a little. He was wearing a fine white suit with gold trimmings, and he had a long sword strapped to his waist, with a gilded hilt.

He and his family had risen out of obscurity nine years ago when Arlan took over as the head of his house, and he quickly rose to power by eliminating his rivals. He was renowned for his cruel, if brilliant, tactics, both on and off the battlefield.

The count laughed at the prince’s scornful expression. “I see that my reputation proceeds me.”

“You waltz into my tent uninvited, and dare speak casually to me?” Augustus stood up and reached for his sword. “I could have you killed, and no one would bat an eye.”

“Perhaps they would’ve, if you still had the authority of a prince, Augustus.”

“How dare-!”

“Now, now, I did not come here to fight or bicker with you today, your highness.” Count Arlan smiled. “Rather, I’ve come to lend you my aid.”

Augustus scoffed. “And why should I believe that?”

“If nothing else, your highness, it’s better than believing in the goddess that’s abandoned you.”

“The Great Goddess hasn’t abandoned-”

“Prince Augustus - who are you trying to convince?” When the prince went silent, Arlan shrugged his shoulders. “I understand how much the saint means to you and your people, but you have to face facts. If she was truly watching over you, she would’ve stopped the Demon Emperor long before you arrived here.”

“…Did you come here to help me abandon my faith?”

“No. Instead, I want you to put your faith in something else.”

“What?”

The count grinned. “Me.”

“What do you mean, count?”

“What I mean is that I think I have a way of defeating the Demon Emperor whilst his empire is in turmoil.”

What?!

“How? The whole might of Themis couldn’t stop him, and the northern countries are being pushed back by his forces. How could you possibly stop him?”

“Quite easily, really.” Arlan walked over the map of Aangapea spread out on the table between them and pointed down at it as he talked. “Right now, Prince Augustus, the whole world is shaken by the rise of the Demon Emperor. In the west, our four great kingdoms have formed the Free People’s Alliance in order to stand against this evil. In the north-east, the former allies turned enemies, turned allies once again, are currently being pushed back by the bulk of the Demon Emperor’s forces.

“In the south-east, in old Themis however, the Demon Emperor’s forces are spread thin. At Adetite, my spies tell me there are only a few thousand soldiers to hold a city of a million people. At the old capital of Themis, I’ve received reports that the Demon Emperor’s forces have failed to pacify its civilian population, and that many are waiting for the opportunity to rebel. Black Port, the former trade hub of Themis, has been abandoned by the Demon Emperor, leaving his southern flank wide open.”

Count Arlan smiled. “Prince Augustus, it isn’t that we can’t defeat the Demon Emperor, but it’s that we only have a small window in which to defeat him. If he’s allowed to pacify both the north and the south, the eastern half of Aangapea will be truly lost. If, however, we’re able to create enough friction in the south and cause rebellions to break out, then his new empire will start to crumble before it has even built its foundations.”

“I understand what you’re saying on paper, but it’s that very ignorance that made us underestimate the Demon Emperor’s plans when he caused the Great Disaster,” Prince Augustus said. “Not to mention, even if his forces are spread thin, there’s a chance that they only appear to be that way. They could just be strong enough to hold these places with a few hundred or thousand men.”

“I’ve considered that possibility as well, but that doesn’t affect my plans, your highness. Instead, what I’m proposing is striking at a key target in the south-east that will inspire both the Free Peoples and those enslaved by the Demon Emperor to defeat this evil before it takes root.”

“What do you mean?”

Count Arlan’s expression changed as he folded his arms. “Right now, the Free People’s Alliance is scrambling to figure out the inner workings of its alliance before the war truly starts. They know they have time to prepare themselves and work out the finer details as the Demon Emperor is only interested in the east, for now. The Alliance is looking to use that time to establish its laws, raise its armies, appoint commanders, and start preparations for the war with the Demon Emperor.

“However, this means that the Demon Emperor can spend this time pacifying the east and eliminating any remnants of rebellion. If we’re able to score a major victory against the Demon Emperor in these early days of the war, then it’ll inspire the Alliance to act more quickly and it’ll spark rebellions across the east.

“What I’m proposing is that we bring about that victory ourselves, you and me, with our combined forces.”

"But I only have two-thousand men at my call, and most don’t want to fight.”

“I have thirty-thousand and they’re all eager to inflict some pain on the bastard usurper.”

“Why?”

Count Arlan grinned. “Because I know that a smart man like yourself knows how to reward those who serve you well.”

He really is like the rumours. Handsome, cunning, vindictive and he holds absolute confidence in himself, Augustus cursed in his mind.

“If we were to win this war, what would you-?”

“I’d want one of the seven provinces, and its capital city, to call my own. Preferably Adetite.” Arlan laughed. “Well, if that’s too much to ask for, then I could settle for Stonefall.”

Augustus smiled thinly. “…I’m sure that could be arranged once the Demon Emperor was dead and his head was mounted on my wall.”

“Then, I’ll gladly bring it to you, my prince.”

If he can reunite me with my siblings, I’ll name him the lord of Stonefall or Adetite in a heartbeat.

“So? What’s the plan?”

Count Arlan pulled a sealed envelope out of his breast pocket and handed it to Prince Augustus.

“I think you’ll agree that this is the best course of action to take.”

***

Thirty-eight war ships, each crewed by a hundred able-bodied sailors and soldiers, crept through the still night waters of the Demon Empire.

After setting off five days ago, the fleet had successfully snuck into the empire and were drawing closer to their destination: the ruins of Black Port.

Their employer, Duke Vespa of the Kingdom of Rhodes, had been one of the first lords of Rhodes to send troops east.

Unlike his fellow nobles, however, Duke Vespa had only sent out warships, not supplies or reinforcements for the refugee camp.

The duke wasn’t interested in gaining respect and glory from cheap, charitable actions, but from big, powerful attacks against their common enemy.

Duke Vespa’s plan was simple.

First, his vanguard force would arrive and establish a forward operations base at Black Port. Then, the rest of his army, another fifty-nine ships with a hundred men on each, would arrive and slowly they would advance north, harassing the Demon Emperor until the Alliance was ready to strike.

Duke Vespa would be praised for his bravery, his haste to act in the face of evil and he’d forever leave his mark on history.

His first son, Laurent Vespa, shared his father’s sentiments and proudly led the fleet towards Black Port.

“Captain, how much further are we to the city?”

“A few hours most, if that, your lordship.”

“Excellent. We’ll use the morning light to help unload our supplies and establish our defences; then, we’ll head out first thing the next day.”

“What will our destination be, your lordship?”

“Hmm, for now, I think we’ll liberate the villages in the region and see about sending raiding parties north. If we’re lucky, we’ll be able to ambush some of the Demon Emperor’s trade routes.”

“I’ll brief the other officers in the morning then, your lord-”

The boat shook.

“What was that?”

“I-I’m not sure. Men, what was that?”

“I don’t know, captain! The wind hasn’t changed and we’re nowhere near the shore.”

“What about rocks?”

“No rocks either, cap’n. Maybe some animal passed under.”

“An animal big enough to shake our boat?” Laurent questioned. “Are there whales or krakens in these waters?”

“No. They’re only at the northern coast-”

The boat shook much more violently this time.

“Get the men ready!”

“My lord?”

“Muster stations, now!”

Muster stations sailor after sailor cried, until the whole fleet was awake, and armed with harpoons, bows and arrows.

I don’t know what this is, but something is coming, Laurent thought.

Fiercer and fiercer waves bashed against their boats until finally, much to their horror, a great sea monster arose from the depths.

With six snake-like heads and unbelievably long necks stretching from its massive body, the beast rose forty metres into the air, letting out a bone chilling screech from each of its mouths. The waves that it had caused from its emergence rocked Laurent’s boat, sending a few curious sailors overboard.

Laurent’s body became overwhelmed by fear.

However, quickly composing himself, he rallied his men.

“Attack! Kill it!” His words stirred the sailors out of their shock, and they engaged the beast.

Three of the heads zoomed towards Laurent’s ship and they smashed through the deck, piercing through the bottom, destroying it. It withdrew its heads and opened all of its mouths at the ships next to it, spewing a purple flame which burnt brightly in the night.

The ships which caught fire cracked and broke from the heat, and the unfortunate sailors were burnt to a crisp in seconds.

***

Scylla looked down at them and felt angry.

Her body told her that she was.

Screaming from all of her heads, she dove into another ship, surfaced through a second and then dove through another, sinking all three. She swam furiously through the line centre line of ships and, when she surfaced, she spat fire to her left and right, lighting the ships in the front and rear ablaze.

***

From the coastline, Charybdis looked on at her sister and sighed.

Even though it’d been a task given to them by their master, Charybdis couldn’t help but feel sad for her sister.

Their monster forms, whilst powerful, were painful to be in and they lost control of themselves.

They acted purely on instinct, with only their sister or master’s words being enough to get through to them, to bring them back from the brink of madness.

“Master said that he’d do whatever we wanted, so I know this is worth it, but.” Charybdis pouted a little. “Why do we have to get the worst jobs?”

After seeing the last of the warships crack in two, Charybdis let out a siren’s call to her sister and the sea monster stopped moving.

It spun its heads around and, like a dog called by its owner, she swam happily over to her sister, causing massive waves to crash against the rocks around Charybdis.

“Welcome back,” she said as Scylla transformed back into her human form, throwing herself into her sister’s loving embrace.

“Thank you.” Scylla, in her dripping wet dress, broke free of her sister’s grasp and collapsed onto her back with a sigh. “You’re doing it next time.”

“Oh? I thought we were doing rock-paper-scissors now to decide instead?”

“I-I only said that because-!”

“You thought you’d win?”

Scylla grumbled under her breath and pouted. “It’s not fair.”

Charybdis smiled and sat beside her sister’s head, then started lightly stroking her hair. “Okay. I’ll do it next time, but we’ll be back to taking turns, okay?”

“…Fine.”

“Good.” Charybdis looked out into the water and smiled. “It’s going to start getting ever busier, Scylla, so we can’t let master down.”