by Ryo Mizuno
The Valis army managed to return with minimal casualties, Kashue bringing up the rear. The Marmo army followed and had already crossed the border into Valis, burning villages and plundering fields as they went. The allied armies of Valis and Flaim set up a final line of defense in the plains east of Roid, and the Marmo army, led by Emperor Beld himself, drew near. The final battle was looming close.
“That’s terrible,” Parn sighed as Kashue’s briefing ended. Everything had gone exactly according to Karla’s plan. Parn had prevented the King of Alania’s assassination by chance, but he’d never imagined that the king’s own brother would cause an uprising. Karla had manipulated events in Flaim and Moss, too, and plunged half of Lodoss into civil wars. Valis and King Fahn, Marmo and Emperor Beld, were left to clash one-on-one just as Karla intended. The witch had probably known all along what the outcome would be.
“Even if Karla does appear in support of Marmo, it changes nothing about what we must do. We have no choice but to believe in Wort’s words. Parn…your first battle as a Holy Knight is going to be crucial to the fate of Lodoss.”
“I’m ready,” Parn answered with pride.
“For now, don’t prepare for the worst,” Kashue said, his even tone intended to ease Parn’s anxiety. “Just focus on surviving the battle in front of you, and you will naturally grow as a warrior. Only fools die in vain.”
“Exactly. There’s no need to rush into heroism.” Fahn agreed.
“Oh. Of course.” Parn lowered his head in embarrassment.
“King Fahn, may I take charge of him?” Kashue said. “He has never fought as a Holy Knight before. His fighting style is close to that of the people of the desert. I’d like him to take command of the newly recruited mercenaries in my army.”
“That’s a good idea. You will learn a lot from watching Lord Kashue fight up close. I heard that you once fought as a desert mercenary, as well. You will be better able to prove yourself there than in an all-knight regiment you aren’t accustomed to. You may not like it, but you have to accept.”
“I wouldn’t dream of objecting,” Parn answered hastily. The Valis Order of Knights was known for their unity and teamwork. Parn knew that he’d only be a burden if he joined them without training.
“Now, Lord Etoh and Lord Slayn, we have something to discuss with you two.”
“What is it?” Etoh asked, sitting up straight.
“Lord Genart has appointed you a cleric of the court, but have you accepted the position?”
“Yes, respectfully,” Etoh placed a hand over his heart and bowed.
“Good. Then you will handle all the religious ceremonies at court from now on. As for you, Lord Slayn—what are your plans? King Kashue mentioned that he would like to have you as his court wizard…”
Slayn, surprised, turned to Kashue and bowed deeply. “I’m honored, but there is something I must do. I’m afraid I can’t serve anyone until my task is done.”
“Is this about Ghim?” Etoh asked quietly.
“Yes…” Slayn nodded.
“Too bad, I like you. But if you have your own mission, I understand. Just remember that the gates of the castle of Flaim are always open to you.”
“Thank you.” Slayn bowed once more.
“I’m concerned for Ghim, too,” Etoh said, apologetic, “but I have to do my duty as a servant of Pharis.”
“Don’t worry about us. We’ll be careful.”
“You’re still going up against that witch.” Parn’s stomach twisted at the thought.
“Woodchuck will help us, so we’ll manage,” Slayn answered, unruffled.
“Then bring me, too,” Parn said with determination. “I’m sure King Fahn will allow me to go kill Karla.”
“Kill Karla? By yourselves?” Fahn frowned. “That’s reckless. You all know what she’s capable of.”
“The Great Magus Wort gave us a weapon for fighting her.” Slayn quickly told the kings about the magic wand.
“I see… Then perhaps you will be able to defeat her. We cannot allow a ghost from the ancient kingdom to keep treating Lodoss like her plaything. When the time comes, we will use all the power of Valis to defeat her, and if she appears in the upcoming battle, you will use the magic wand.” But even as he said it, Fahn didn’t expect her to appear during the battle—she would know the risks of being in a melee.
“If the witch appears, I’ll bring her down myself,” Kashue said casually. Then he said, laughing, “Thus, I’ll get a brilliant wizard for my court.”
“Beld is our more immediate concern,” Fahn said. “Marmo split their army into three and is heading to Roid through the eastern plains. We’ll have to split our forces into three to engage them. I will take the center with Leonis, Elm will take the right flank, and King Kashue will take the left. Each of our forces will strike the enemy we encounter.”
“Head on?” Kashue asked.
“The enemy won’t have anything in reserve for an ambush. The rightmost of Marmo’s forces is the monster army led by dark elves. The wizards will be assigned to King Kashue’s army to handle them. They will likely be more dangerous than the Knights of Darkness approaching in the center, or the savage warriors from the Forest of Darkness on the left.”
“I’ll join Parn,” Slayn offered. “I’m a wizard, too—I’ve earned my Sage robes, after all. I don’t desire combat, but I can’t retreat from this fight. So I’ll use my spells in support of Parn and King Kashue.”
“Will the Pharis battle-priests be fighting?” Etoh asked Fahn.
“Of course,” Fahn nodded. “Lord Genart has declared this a battle between the Supreme God Pharis and Phalaris, the God of Darkness. The Holy Knights of the Great Temple of Pharis will take part.”
“Then may I join in? I trained as a battle-priest when I was at the Temple of Alania.”
“Yes, you can also join the left wing.” Fahn nodded at Etoh, then turned to Kashue and motioned to wrap up the war council.
“Well then, Your Majesty, when will the battle begin?” Kashue asked, following protocol.
“The day after tomorrow, at noon. Send a messenger through to the front line.”
At Fahn’s words, Elm opened the door and left quickly to carry out his orders. Parn followed, feeling tense.
It had begun.
3
The time of the final battle had come.
Parn had never experienced a clash of armies so large before. He rode alongside Kashue and the knights of Flaim, watching the clouds growing in the eastern skies.
“It was such nice weather…” The sun had disappeared behind the cloud cover. It was too early for an afternoon shower, and Parn sniffed the air to see if it would rain. It didn’t feel very humid—the weather was behaving strangely.
“They probably summoned clouds with magic,” Slayn mumbled from behind them. He was walking carefully to avoid being kicked by horses—the battle was clearly weighing heavily on his mind, so Parn was trying to give him his space.
Etoh walked behind Slayn, Pharis battle-priests in matching armor streaming behind him like a group of pilgrims.
Deedlit rode a horse a short distance behind Parn—she’d decided at the last minute to join the battle. Woodchuck, however, had stayed behind in the castle—a battlefield was no place for a rogue like him.
As for Ghim, rescuing Leylia was his most important duty.
“A large-scale battle such as this isn’t like the small skirmishes you’re used to, which tend to break down into one-on-one fights,” Kashue said, offering guidance as he always did. “You must always be vigilant and keep track of the flow of the battle. You need to know whether your allies have the upper hand or are losing ground. Even the most skilled swordsman will die on the battlefield if he isn’t aware of the battle around him.” Kashue frowned. “Our opponents use dark magic and elemental magic. We have no idea what they can do, so be prepared for their trickery. Use code words among allies and consider anyone who cannot answer an enemy. The deaths of a few allies will
do less damage in the long run.” Kashue turned to Parn. “It’s not a popular strategy, but it’s how I survived.”
Parn understood the meaning underneath the words. Don’t waste your life. Only take that risk when it’s worth it.
When the bells in Roid tolled noon, Fahn swung his sword down to signal the attack. Horns blasted and drums beat out their low boom, boom, sending the signal through the entire army.
On the northern battlefield, Kashue heard the signal. With a shout, he commanded his knights and soldiers to charge through the rolling grassland and attack the enemy camp. The battle had begun.
Angry bellows rang out from soldiers on both sides, and a ringing clash of swords surrounded them. Soon, death cries could be heard as the battlefield turned into a sea of carnage.
“Deed, don’t fall behind!” Parn called out to the elf. He drew his sword and spurred his horse on.
“Follow me!” Kashue ordered. “Don’t give them time to cast spells!” But before they could get any further, a company of dark knights appeared over a hill and cleaved into the side of the charging Flaim army, almost exactly where Parn was riding.
“We’ll get them!” Parn called as he reined in his steed. If these knights ruined their formation, they would be at a massive disadvantage.
“Leave it to me!” Deedlit called as she released Undine from the water bag at her hip. The water elemental fluttered through the air and clung to the lead knight’s face like a thin film. He tumbled off his horse, grasping at his face, unable to breathe.
A moment later, a massive explosion shot through the center of the dark knights—a fire spell from Slayn. Several of the horsemen exploded and several more were knocked from their mounts. The remaining knights bravely drew closer, however.
Then, just before the lead rider crossed swords with Parn, they swerved and galloped off.
“They were a diversion,” Slayn warned. “The dark elves are lurking, hidden.”
Parn nodded, then rode down the line yelling, “Protect the wizard! He’ll tell us where the dark elves are!”
Etoh’s battle-priests surrounded Slayn with shields facing outward.
“Thank you,” the wizard muttered. From behind the shield wall, he could point out where the invisible dark elves were approaching and cast neutralizing spells to break their invisibility.
“There! Get them!” Parn shouted, pointing at the now-visible dark elves with his sword. He galloped over and used the momentum to run one through with his blade. The mercenaries of his squad followed, skillfully picking off the dark elves. Flaim’s powerful mercenary army had once been led by Kashue himself, and they were on par with Flaim’s Order of Knights. They were normally led by Kashue’s trusted right hand man, Shadam.
“Don’t stray far from the infantry!” Kashue shouted. “Support the magic-users!”
At his order, Parn turned his horse back toward Slayn and Etoh. They were already in the enemy camp, but as Parn rode up, the enemy was nowhere to be found. He could only see monsters with bows moving in small groups, roving the hills.
The monsters were weak, but their arrows flew far from their posts on high ground. Parn drew an arrow from his quiver and, with a twang of his bowstring, let it fly in a parabola toward the enemy. He’d only intended it as cover fire, but it was a lucky shot—one of the monsters took it in the chest and stumbled to the ground.
Several of the enemy archers returned fire. Parn raised his shield to protect his face.
“Sylph, spirit of wind…” Deedlit called out to the wind elemental, who created a gust of wind on her command. The arrows suddenly changed course and buried themselves harmlessly in the ground.
Deedlit took the lead position, expanding Sylph’s influence to protect more of their soldiers.
Parn hurried over to her. “Don’t push yourself too hard,” he called out.
“I’ll have Sylph handle the archers,” Deedlit called back. “Shouldn’t you be looking for other enemies?” She gestured with her rapier—Parn followed with his eyes, only to see Kashue, the mercenary king, at the front of the Knights of Flaim. He was boldly slashing his way through the enemy ranks.
“Whoa,” Parn whispered, awestruck. Kashue’s skill with the sword was even more impressive than the rumors had implied. Every swing of his blade felled another enemy. The knights at his back were all stalwart veterans of the long war with the desert savages and kept pace with their king.
“We can’t fall behind!” Parn called out to his soldiers as he spurred his steed onwards. “Follow King Kashue—the enemy is fleeing!”
“Good to see you alive!” Kashue called to Parn, pulling his horse to a stop. A few of the desert knights were wounded, but none had died yet. Two of Parn’s squad had been killed by the dark elves, but the others had all made it through unscathed.
“There were fewer dark elves than I expected,” Kashue said with a wry smile. “The others must be having a rough time.”
“Then we must clear this area and go assist them,” one of the knights replied.
“Indeed,” Kashue responded. “We have nothing to fear from a few dark elves. Cut through them and finish this quickly. Follow me!”
Parn rode alongside Kashue at the front. Enemy arrows rained down on him, but he felt no fear—being near a true hero like Kashue made him feel safe and powerful. He knew he could push past his own limits, basking in the aura of such a magnificent warrior.
Deedlit’s elementals were doing their jobs, deflecting all of the enemy’s arrows into strange trajectories that didn’t come close to hitting their allies.
Suddenly, several balls of fire appeared ahead. As they watched, the fireballs took on the shape of lizards.
“It’s Salamander, the spirit of fire! Watch out, it breathes flames!” Deedlit called out in warning.
Parn readied his shield and galloped up to one of the fire lizards. The sword in his right hand glowed pale blue.
“Is that Slayn?!” he cried in delight at his glowing blade—his wizard friend had enhanced his sword with a spell.
The glowing blade sliced cleanly through the salamander’s torso as he galloped past—the fiery monster vanished without even a wisp of smoke.
“Charge!” Parn held his sword out and galloped at full speed. The salamanders’ flames had knocked several knights off their horses, but the rest plunged into the enemy ranks, routing them.
“Attack while their ranks are disrupted! Have faith in Pharis’s divine protection!” Etoh called. His battle-priests were clustered behind the knights, closing in on the enemy, supporting their allies with holy magic but also pushing forward hand-to-hand with their maces.
“I’m exhausted,” Slayn panted next to him. “Running like this right after casting a spell? I’m not gonna last.”
Etoh glanced over, then paled when he saw how badly Slayn was doing. He called over one of the fitter priests and quickly directed him to attend to Slayn. The priest laid a hand on Slayn’s body and began praying to Pharis—at once, Slayn’s heart beat slower and his breathing evened out.
“Pharis magic sure is handy,” Slayn commented, impressed. “Thank you, I feel much better—and they still need me.” With no hesitation, Slayn raised his staff and cast an ancient spell. He shook his staff to the side once, and several of the enemy fell to the ground.
“Is that the old standby sleep spell?” asked Etoh.
“Yes. I’ve learned that these little spells are often more useful than the larger ones. In a melee, one inattentive moment can be fatal,” Slayn mumbled as he scanned the battle around him.
Etoh agreed. The formations of both armies had crumbled, melding into a massive melee. A short distance away, Parn and Deedlit could be seen wielding their swords side by side.
Etoh couldn’t help but smile, thinking of how far his strong, dependable friend had come.
“This area is clear!” Kashue’s voice boomed above all the other noise. “Head south to assist King Fahn’s main force. Reassemble the formations. Those of
you on foot—don’t push too hard, you won’t be able to fight if you wear yourselves out running. Cavalry in front, then the battle-priests and wizards. Heavily armed infantry will take up the rear. Only drink water on the way—you’ll fight better if you’re a little hungry!” With that, the fighters began their march through the trampled farmland.
The enemy army’s right flank—already destroyed by Kashue’s army—was likely a decoy. Most of the dark elves were in the left flank, where they’d quickly wiped out Elm’s army. Elm himself had fallen to the blade of a dark elf assassin.
That triumphant enemy had charged through the decimated left flank to join the battle in the center, and they had given their side the advantage—until Kashue’s army arrived. Evenly matched, the field was plunged into absolute chaos…
4
It was no holy battle. Soldiers on both sides fell dead, one after another—pure, unending slaughter.
Two kobolds ran at Parn, half-crazed with fear. Parn crossed swords with them and dispatched the pair quickly. Looking down at their corpses, words escaped him despite himself.
“This is terrible.”
Parn and Deedlit dismounted their tired horses—they were panting hard and caked with mud and the blood of their enemies. Etoh and Slayn were still with them, but most of the battle-priests and mercenaries were scattered across the field. Even Parn understood that there would be no victor in this battle. Only Death would be left smiling at the end.
Dimly, he wondered when it would be his or Deedlit’s turn to fall, staining the ground red with their blood, just like those poor, pathetic kobolds. He shuddered at the hopelessness of it all. Even so, every time he spotted another enemy, his sword swung practically on its own, in search of fresh blood.
Just then, he caught sight of King Fahn from afar. The king had dismounted, and he and a few Royal Guards were facing a throng of goblins. Beyond him, Parn could see a warrior in red armor with the crest of Marmo emblazoned upon it.