Betwixt Heaven and Earth lies a crimson flaming horizon.
I seek.
This place.
As God wishes me to.
✦ ✦ ✦
At this point, elven arrogance is not something that angers me.
“Captain, do not make me repeat myself. This is not enough. We require more beans, potatoes, flour, cattle, and horses.”
“And as I keep telling you, Second Commander, we have no obligation to provide you with any more.” Who knows how long I have been standing here at attention, away from the troops and surrounded by elves eating and drinking. How are things going with Father Felipo?
“You are as stubborn as a mule. My patience is truly being tested.” Agreed. But I will not show it.
“I sense no respect. It is unfortunate.”
“Not only must we construct your camps, but we must also feed you. We have given more than enough help.”
“I ask the tolerance of the people of Ewlogond. However human that makes me sound.”
“We are merely fulfilling our end of the Baltrial Treaty.”
“An old interpretation of an ancient law. No, let us call it a makeshift pretext. How shameless.”
Sneers erupted from all sides. The elves’ laughter is like the rustling of trees, or the tuning of an orchestra. Appropriate, considering they as a race excelled at music.
“Is that thing at your waist a sword?”
“Yes.”
“And you call that a weapon?” He was insistent on getting a rise out of me, no matter what it took.
“Indeed.”
“It would be useless before our army’s bows, and snap like a twig in battle against a vampire’s hammer. Is that all you have to rely on?”
“Correct.” He’s stubborn. Even starting to get a bit frustrated, I’d say. What is it that makes him this way? Pride? Scorn? Panic? Resentment? Either way, this is a battle. I stand alone against a sea of heavy offensive attacks. For now my stance shows no openings, but as reinforcements are uncertain it’s unlikely this will be settled in a draw. I doubt I can even hope for a narrow defeat.
“Would you like to see?” In that case, I must act. A counterattack.
“...Yes.” Go, my sword. My vanguard.
“Hm, I dropped it. It’s heavy. What a barbaric racket it makes.”
“A sword of this make must not be wielded or spoken of lightly.”
“Hmph. You pick it up, but why do you not wipe the dirt off?”
“A warrior uses the dirt of the battlefield as his pillow. That goes double for their weapons and armor.”
“A savage’s ideals, indeed. And... Mgh... I can’t draw it.”
“Perhaps that is for the best. A naked blade calls for blood.”
“You would strike an elf?”
“I simply know the meaning of a blade.”
“You were planning to strike me, weren’t you, lowly human?” I pick up the sword he tossed to the ground again. As my fingers wrap around the hilt, I can feel a stubbornness. You’re as boneheaded as I am, aren’t you?
“Let’s test whether that stick is worthy of being called a weapon.”
“Perhaps this is not the best place. Plus, our weapons are too sharp for a duel.”
“Do not quibble over trifles. Cry all you like, but it has been decided.” He shoots me a quick, almost intense, look. This officer is tough.
“I shall loose an arrow. Block it if you can.” I hear the sound of a bowstring before he even finishes speaking. It comes not from the front, but from the side and behind. A double Rending Arrow. Wind brushes my shoulder and leg, signaling their targets. Elven archery goes hand in hand with magic.
The fact that they are not fatal targets is proof that this is a trick. He wants to taunt us into action. So I draw my sword, a quick flash through the air, and with great speed cut down the arrows.
Hmm... It’s quiet. We may be different species but martial arts are martial arts, and a soldier is a soldier. An opponent’s ability is best judged in silence. Heh, is he trying to hide the sound of his swallowing? I do not know your name, archer, but there is nothing to be ashamed of. The truth is I am also quite impressed with my skill, and that’s not just conceit.
This is a blessing. God has deigned to bless us humans when we swing our swords.
“What are you doing?” a voice roars from on high. An elven flyer, eh?
“Second Commander Arcsem! Explain yourself!”
“There is no reason to get riled up. The human drew his sword. In front of me.”
“Don’t lie to me! You surrounded him with your men and shot arrows at him!”
“If you were watching then don’t trouble me for an explanation, Dragon Warrior.”
“You would ignore Her Grace’s will, you cur?”
“I was merely attempting to secure provisions. That is within my job responsibilities.” Even elves have infighting? Interesting. So he attempted to stir up trouble—to light a starting signal—despite this waiting for him? All to bring war to this land...
Well, I won’t let him. Not as long as I bear witness.
“On plains of chaos no one knows, where hills billow like a stormy sea...” Solemnly I begin to chant an old war song. Drawn blade in hand, I dance.
“Evil winds blow purple clouds from the south, far above in the peaks of Heaven...” Chanting clearly, I continue to dance. In place of the traditional clapping I swipe my sword, and in place of drums I stomp the earth. Just listen. Just watch. This is another form of battle.
“Listen to the voices of a thousand men, a thousand horses become the shadows of the Spear Forest Wilds, become a torrent of battlefields...” A few days ago, this land was akin to a graveyard. It might still be a battlefield, but there is life now. Nay, dare I say, it is even becoming a holy land.
And so I chant. And so I dance. My body is filled with the joy of offering up my martial arts to God.
“Silent moonlight shines on the graves of the strong. A lone war banner lays upon an empty land.” As the song ends I sink my blade into its sheath, the clink of the guard ringing like a bell. My sword put away, I straighten up. Then I bow.
“Pardon me. Just a little performance to show my respect for the bravery of your army.” Ah, it’s quiet. It’s so quiet, I can even hear the sound of shuffling leaves. The whispers of soldiers are representative of an army’s true nature. Quiet surprise, curiosity, admiration... those are the things I hear. As expected, whether they be human of elf, the purity of a warrior changes not. Soldiers are essentially simplistic and crude. They stand brave against enemies, fear enemies, challenge enemies. Assuming we all share these qualities, then tactics can be related. Because we kill each other, we can also sometimes fight together.
“If I recall, you were the acting representative of this land, correct?” The Dragon Warrior approaches. That must mean things have settled down here, at least.
“I am Agias Willow, acting Frontier Captain.”
“Indeed. An excellent performance. I wish I had my flute so I could accompany you.”
“It would be an honor.”
“I see. I am happy to hear that. However, that aside, there is something we must discuss immediately.”
“The disturbance in the residential quarter?”
“Yes. Second Commander Arcsem, I insist you accompany us.” Beckoned into their camp, I take the seat I am offered. The plants decorating the inside remind me that I am in the heart of enemy lands.
“Let’s get to it. Your report, Dragon Warrior.”
“Indeed. Unfortunately, losses were suffered on both sides.” So we’re not waiting for Father Felipo to arrive, eh? The Dragon Warrior doesn’t seem rushed, but this Second Commander elf does. I assume he doesn’t like dealing with that silver-tongued man. I can understand that.
“Her Grace wishes to express her greatest sorrow over this incident. Even now, she is stricken with grief. It all began with...” The Dragon Warrior’s face is grave as she explains what happened. Whether it is the victims that pain her, however, I cannot tell.
“I see. So three soldiers were lost.” An elven army occupying a human living quarter... it was never going to work. And considering the chaos from the monster attack, it’s fortunate this is all that happened. Even though people died.
“I must insist that this was not Her Grace’s will. In fact, she tried to stop it. Even in her distress, she ordered me to. However it was, er, difficult for me to understand...” I can guess why, but I refrain from speaking. After all, to elves humans are not seen as equals.
“Wait. We lost three soldiers and six beasts?”
“The violence in the living quarter was our fault, Second Commander Arcsem.”
“We’ll come back to that. Are you telling me humans killed elves?”
“...Yes. I witnessed it myself.”
“As if I could believe that.” If anyone could do the impossible, it would be that raven-haired girl.
Kuroi.
Earlier she had been watching over me and Father Felipo from a distance when she noticed distress in the town and ran off. And then she saved some children and took revenge on elves, eh?
“We...” If I consider Kuroi’s actions—consider her actions as those of God’s...
“Our army...” As the one in charge of the soldiers here, it is my duty to deliver this verdict.
“Our army exists to protect humans. In our right hand we wield a blade, in our left we wield flames. Each of us is always ready to defend. We do not fight recklessly. However, we do not shy from battle either. Our army is a fire that, once sparked, rages fiercely until its enemies are turned to ash.” Elves and vampires. The two strong threats against humanity. Both require solid shows of force to get the message, or else a limited future awaits us. And I will devote my life to a better future for humanity. So, for now, I will press forward, hiding my true feelings. I shall endure, and I shall make progress. They will know the line they cannot cross, and the pride of humans will not falter to petty pranks.
“I pray that you fine elves do not forget this.”
I shall wait for fortune to turn my way.