by Jackson Bale
“Our---two---hundred---soldiers---formed---twenty---ranks,---side---by---side.---They---stood---strong,---powerful,---even---when---Gladius---trotted---forward.---He---alone---stood---against---them,---eyeing---down---over---a---hundred---fighters.---He---lifted---his---glaive,---a---massive---thing---of---sharp---bone---and---claw.---He---lifted---it---into---the---air,---waiting---for---the---horn.---A---horn---which---the---[Speaker]---holds.”
“The---[Speaker]---was---there.---He---held---a---horn,---a---large---horn---requiring---two---men---to---hold.---He---waited---one---by---one---as---every---[Herdmaster]---told---him---that---they---were---present---and---ready.---Then---the---[Speaker]---blew---on---the---horn.---A---sound,---an---agonizingly---loud---sound---was---heard.---It---marked---the---start---of---the---herd---wars.
Dragken---shakes---his---head,---eyes---now---downcast.
“Our---two---hundred---engage,---activating---skills---and---rushing---towards---Gladius.---Confident,---powerful,---a---charge---to---be---completely---proud---of.”
“They---all---charged?---None---used---bows?”---I---ask,---curious---that---I---may---have---missed---something.
“No.---At---the---time,---bows---were---solely---used---as---a---hunting---weapons---and---only---against---monsters.---It---was---considered---cowardly---to---fight---another---centaur---with---a---bow.---A---belief---that---Gladius---did---not---share.”
“As---they---charged,---Gladius---lowered---his---weapon.---And---then---the---sky---went---dark---as---thousands---of---arrows---came---from---the---sky---behind---him.---They---fell---in---front---of---him,---striking---the---charging---centaurs.---They---couldn’t---dodge.---The---arrows---struck,---many---breaking---upon---the---bone---armor---of---those---charging,---but---there---were---so---many---arrows.---They---found---open---joints,---areas---were---armor---did---not---protect.---The---arrows---penetrating,---killing---some,---others---falling.---The---only---ones---who---kept---charging---were---the---those---few---who---were---able---to---react---fast---enough---to---activate---defensive---skills.---Skills---that---saved---them.---But---those---were---few,---especially---considering---what---came---next.”
“Those---which---seemed---like---[Traders],---[Farmers],---[Crafters]---all---parted,---allowing---a---heavily---armored---and---high---level---group---to---charge---out.---Over---a---thousand---of---them---flooded---out---from---the---gaps.---They---quickly---swarmed,---slaughtering---the---remaining---fighters,---killing---off---the---wounded---on---the---ground.---I---was---appalled,---as---were---all---of---the---other---[Herdmasters].---They---did---not---expect---this.---They---watched---as---our---fighters---died,---slaughtered---like---monsters.---When---the---last---of---the---two---hundred---had---died,---Gladius---turned---to---us,---to---the---[Speaker].---He---pointed---his---weapon---at---us---and---yelled-”
“Charge.---A---simple---word.---One---I---will---never---forget.---A---word---which---was---immediately---followed---by---the---yell---Run.---A---yell---which---had---come---from---the---[Speaker],---one---which---all---have---heard.”
“And---so---we---ran.---We---ran---hard---and---fast---from---the---approaching---fighters.---But---it---mattered---little---as---many---of---the---[Herdmasters]---were---old.---They---were---no---longer---in---their---prime.---They---did---not---have---the---stamina---to---continue---running.---Many---of---them---collapsed.---And---when---they---did,---the---others---of---the---herd---would---attempt---to---help.---And---those---died.”
“My---own---father---was---old---too.---He---was---one---of---the---last---to---fall,---but---before---he---did,---he---told---us---all---to---run---on.---To---abandon---him.”
Dragken---looks---up,---his---upon---his---face---is---damp,---wet---from---tears.
“I---wanted---to---fight.---I---wanted---to---help---him.---Though---he---was---a---bad---husband,---he---was---still---a---good---father.---A---father---that---I---still---respect.---So---I---refused---to---abandon---him.---I---faced---those---which---came---at---us.---My---father---begged---me---to---run,---but---I---refused.---Seventeen---of---them---had---followed,---each---armored---extensively.”
The---old---centaur---chuckles.---A---dry---laugh,---one---completely---lacking---in---happiness.
“I---greeted---their---charge---with---a---yell.---I---activated---as---many---of---my---skills---I---could.---I---charged---at---the---leading---centaur.---He---was---several---feet---ahead.---His---lance---was---out,---extended---toward---me.---And---just---as---it---was---about---to---hit,---I---swerved---slightly,---barely---avoiding---it---while---thrusting---my---spear---out,---finding---flesh.---I---had---struck---him---under---the---helmet,---slicing---through---his---throat.---He---quickly---went---down.---I---did---not---stop---my---charge.---Instead---I---went---for---the---next---one,---but---I---was---not---as---lucky---as---he---had---a---halberd---which---he---waved---from---the---side---with---unexpected---speed.---I---attempted---to---block---with---my---spear,---but---that---proved---completely---ineffective---as---it---cut---through---the---wood,---slicing---through---my---leather---armor,---straight---into---my---chest.”
“But---I---didn't---fall.---I---stopped---instead---and---looked---behind---me,---watching---as---the---wielder---of---the---halberd---continues---past---me,---his---weapon---descends,---cutting---off---my---father's---head.---But---I---didn’t---get---to---feel---regret.---Heck,---I---didn't---get---to---feel---much---as---then---a---spiked---mace---struck---me---on---my---leather---armored---head.---And---I---fell---unconscious.”
“You---didn't---die?”---Zoteal---asks,---voicing---my---own---thoughts.
A---moving---target---with---a---spiked---mace---is---capable---of---breaking---bone---rather---easily,---even---through---metal.---Unless..
“You---gained---a---skill.”---I---say,---the---only---reasonable---explanation---I---can---think---of---to---survive---something---like---that.
Dragken---nods,---“I---gained---a---skill---that---day.---Possibly---after---the---first---guy---I---killed.---And---that---skill---saved---me.---A---rare---skill---called---[Absorbent---Armor].”
Hmmm.---Janie---did---say---that---you---would---gain---skills---as---you---level.---But---unless---you---know---the---name---of---it,---you---couldn't---activate---it.---Which---is---why---it---is---important---to---visit---a---class---stone---often.---Which---means---[Absorbent---Armor]---is---some---kind---of---a---passive---skill.
“What---does---the---skill---do---and---what---class---were---you---at---the---time?”---I---ask.
“That---is---disrespectful,”---Zoteal---voices---out,---looking---at---me---like---I---had---just---shat---on---his---face.
“It---is---fine.”---Dragken---waves---at---Zoteal,---“Thoric---here---is---similar---to---the---Gejan---which---had---traveled---our---lands---recently.---He---does---not---yet---understand---our---ways.”---he---explains,---quickly---calming---the---man.
Dragken---turns---to---me,---a---knowing---smile---forming---on---his---lips,---”Though---it---doesn't---matter---considering---he---already---knows---our---class---after---all.---It---has---been---awhile---since---someone---had---used---[Advanced---Analyse]---on---me.”---the---old---centaur---chuckles,---enjoying---Zoteal’s---widened---eyes.
“But---I---didn't---even---hear---him---activate---it!”---Zoteal---says,---“How---did---you---know?”
“You---understand---aura,”---I---quickly---say,---getting---a---nod---from---Dragken.
“Yes,---she---has---taught---me---how---to---harness---and---use---it.---Even---to---protect---against---others.”
So---he---could---have---partially---blocked---my---[Advanced---Analyse]---spell---like---Anathema---did,---but---he---chose---not---to.---Possibly---as---a---show---of---trust.
“What---is---aura.---Is---it---a---skill?”---Zoteal---asks,---confused.---He---had---never---heard---of---the---term.
“Something---that---she---taught---me---on---a---whim.”---he---says.
She.---Fucking---old---people---and---their---cryptic---bullshit.
“Of---course,”---he---says---confidently,---enjoying---the---annoyed---look---on---my---face.
I---shake---my---head,---annoyed---but---not---angry.---I---like---to---be---cryptic---as---well.---It---tends---to---add---a---certain---flair---that---I---like---so---much.---But---I---still---despise---it---when---it---is---used---against---me.
“Now---then,---my---class---at---the---time---was---a---level---70---[Spearman]---which---luckily---enough---gave---me---the---rare---skill---[Absorbent---Armor].---It---is---a---skill---which---is---constantly---active---and---allows---my---armor,---regardless---of---what---it---is,---to---absorb---great---impacts---at---the---cost---of---its---durability.---This---skill---sacrificed---my---leather---helmet---to---absorb---a---great---deal---of---the---impact.---Not---all,---but---enough---to---keep---my---skull---in---one---piece.”
That---seems---like---a---very---powerful---defensive---skill.---High---durability---armor---would---make---him---nigh---indestructible.
“Anyhow,I---had---woken---up---during---the---following---night.---My---armor---and---clothing---were---missing---but---I---was---still---alive.---Apparently---they---did---not---bother---to---check---whether---I---was---alive---before---stripping---me---of---my---possessions.”
“The---following---days---after---were---difficult---for---me.---I---wandered,---lacking---clothes,---water---or---food.---The---worst---was---that---I---had---no---idea---were---I---was.---Direction---was---something---that---I---was---lacking.---But---somehow,---I---wandered---into---a---village.---A---village---destroyed---but---not---empty.---The---village---of---Cespir.---A---village---dedicated---to---hunting---monsters---in---the---nearby---mountain.---When---I---entered,---I---probably---would---have---been---killed---on---sight---if---not---for---the---fact---that---I---was---lacking---in---clothes---and---covered---by---dried---blood.---They---allowed---me---in,---questioning---me,---and---I---explained---my---situation.---I---had---nothing---to---hide.---They---were---attacked---as---well,---but---instead---of---fighting,---they---took---their---whole---population---into---the---mountain---and---hid.---The---Golden---Hoof---chased---them---inside,---a---good---thousand---fighters,---but---the---mountain---was---huge---with---many---winding---turns---and---deadly---monsters.---The---[Rangers]---guided---the---population---safely---through,---deep---into---an---area---that---was---both---safe---and---large.---Those---thousand---that---had---followed,---most---of---them---had---died.---They---got---lost---inside---the---tunnels.---They---wanted---blood,---yet---instead---they---were---the---blood.---For---two---days,---they---had---hid---while---hearing---the---screams---of---the---Golden---Hoof---herd---resonating---through---the---cavernous---walls.---They---had---died---and---the---monsters---had---feasted.”
“On---the---third---day,---they---finally---left---the---mountain,---finding---a---destroyed---village.---And---that---was---when---I---showed---up.”
“They---gave---me---water,---food,---even---clothing,---all---of---which---were---pilfered---from---the---Golden---Hoof---corpses.---I---was---finally---armed.---I---wanted---revenge.---And---when---I---told---the---[Herdmaster]---of---my---plan---to---leave---and---fight,---he---called---me---a---weak---idiot.”
Dragken---chuckles,---his---eyes---reflecting---the---light---towards---me.
“I---was---tired---and---angry.---My---father---died.---My---herd---may---also---be---dead.---So---my---emotions---took---over---and---I---called---him---a---coward.---But---instead---of---feeling---insulted,---the---[Herdmaster]---chuckled---and---told---me---to---wait.---He---left---and---grabbed---a---halberd,---a---massive---thing---made---of---crystal---and---bone.---He---held---it---as---though---it---were---nothing.---He---challenged---me.---Said---that---if---i---can't---defeat---him,---then---I---would---just---be---running---to---my---death.---So---I---did---what---every---emotionally---unstable---person---would---do.---I---yelled,---raised---my---spear---and---charged---him.”
“What---happened---next?”
I---look---to---Zoteal,---his---eyes---widened,---posture---forward,---ears---twitching.---The---centaur---was---completely---entranced---with---the---story.
And---Dragken---was---enjoying---every---bit---of---the---attention.
“Well,---I---would---love---to---say---that---I---defeated---him---and---was---allowed---to---run---off.---But,---what---actually---happened---was---that---I---was---played---with.---I---charged,---he---sidestepped,---easily---dodging---my---spear---while---he---casually---swings---his---halberd---to---the---side,---striking---me---with---the---blunt---end.---The---force---knocked---me---to---the---side.---This---angered---me.---So---I---tried---again.---And---again.---And---again.---I---only---stopped---after---my---body---was---covered---in---bruises---and---I---could---no---longer---stand.---I---did---not---land---a---hit.---My---skills---were---avoided---with---ease,---so---I---slumped---and---instead---glared---angrily---at---him---even---though---at---that---moment---I---was---most---angry---about---myself.---About---how---weak---I---am.---He---saw---this---and---laid---down---his---weapon.---Then---he---came---to---me---and---sat---beside---me.”
“It---was---here---that---everything---changed.---He---said---I---had---potential.---That---I---had---the---drive.---So---he---asked---me---if---I---would---like---to---train---under---him.”
Dragken---shakes---his---head,---“I---cannot---remember---what---I---was---feeling---when---he---asked.---All---I---remember---is---that---I---had---said---yes.---It---was---that---day---that---I---became---the---direct---student---of---Cornelius.”
“[General]---Cornelius?---The---one---that---defeated---Gladius?---That---Cornelius?”
Dragken---nods.
Zoteal---sits---back---a---bit,---a---look---of---bewilderment---is---on---his---face.---“This---is---the---first---I---am---hearing---this.---I---knew---you---served---under---him,---but---to---be---trained---directly…---wow.”
“It---is---not---a---detail---I---tell---anyone.---Few---even---know---about---it.---And---this---was---before---he---became---a---[General].”
Dragken---moves---and---grabs---a---gourd,---picking---it---up---and---drinking---water,---all---while---Zoteal---looks---at---the---old---centaur---in---a---new---light.
I---on---the---other---hand---am---bored.---The---story,---though---interesting,---is---needlessly---long.---The---only---reason---I---continue---to---even---listen---is---because---I---have---a---feeling---that---knowing---their---history---will---be---important,---especially---considering---the---class---of---[General].---An---actual---military---leader---class,---one---that---I---would---need---for---my---army.
“I---trained---under---him---for---a---thousand---cycles.---He---trained---me---in---his---favorite---weapon,---the---halberd.---Under---his---guidance,---I---learned---to---fight,---to---move,---to---kill---monsters---within---the---caverns.---My---levels---increased---quickly.---Eventually---I---reached---level---one---hundred---and---was---offered---either---the---[Spearmaster]---or---[Halberdier]---class.---I---of---course---chose---the---latter,---especially---since---my---favored---weapon---now---was---the---halberd.”
“So---you---trained---with---him---the---entire---time.---What---happened---with---the---war?”---I---asked,---confused.
Dragken’---eyes---widen---after---realizing---he---forgot---to---mention---it.
“The---war,---right.---Many---centaurs---were---able---to---escape---and---warn---the---others---herds.---This---allowed---them---to---prepare---and---a---coalition---of---herds---was---created.---An---army---was---formed,---its---size---dwarfing---Gladeus’---by---several---times.---But---such---an---army---takes---time---to---amass,---especially---considering---so---many---[Herdmasters]---had---perished.---An---heir---had---to---be---chosen---from---those---herds---and---then---the---heir---had---to---organize---as---many---fighters---a---possible.---Lack---of---experience---and---planning---made---such---a---process---take---a---long---time,---and---Gladius---used-
--that---time---to---pillage---towns---and---villages,---destroying---entire---herds---while---obtaining---much---needed---supplies.---Eventually,---the---coalition---of---herds,---led---by---one---of---the---highest---level---[Herdmasters],---were---able---to---stop---Gladeus’---army,---though---at---a---great---cost.---Even---though---the---coalition---had---several---times---more---fighters,---they---lacked---proper---leadership,---planning,---but---most---of---all,---proper---classes.---Gladeus’---army---moves---together.---They---were---organized,---exceptionally---so.---It---was---only---later,---after---months---of---war---did---they---realize---that---Gladius---had---[Soldiers],---[Lieutenants],---[Captains],---all---classes---which---excel---in---large---scale---organized---combat.---It---became---apparent,---after---a---year---of---war---that---Gladeus---would---eventually---win.---Battle---after---battle,---the---coalition---lost,---only---being---able---to---continue---the---war---due---to---sheer---numbers.---They---eventually---became---desperate,---forced---to---take---young---centaurs,---even---women,---into---battle.---The---newbloods---were---told---to---become---[Soldiers].---This---changed---the---coalition,---but---it---costed---time---and---blood.---As---the---war---continued,---more---and---more---[Soldiers]---were---taken---into---the---army.---The---battling---leveled---them---quickly,---causing---many---[Lieutenants]---and---[Captains]---to---show---up.---Eventually,---both---sides---found---themselves---at---a---bit---of---a---stalemate.---The---coalition---had---about---three---times---more---members---than---Gladius---while---Gladius---had---many---more---higher---leveled---members.”