Agias is like a meteor. His precisely refined motions are like paths of light.
“Individual platoons may attack at their discretion! Take care to stop each and every enemy that steps toward you.” I can’t yet move like he does. Nor can Origis.
Since the core of our army are the cavalry, that’s the cutting edge. They’re the company that is deployed at the crucial turning point, where they must win, and return without a scratch. The company’s not allowed to even have wounds.
“Move the wounded into the protection of the host! Don’t overextend yourselves!” On the other end, the troops who have experienced battle against the vampires have formed squares and are retreating. They, too, are precious. They hold the key to future battles.
“Weapons free! Use as much ammunition and lances as you need! Resupply at the host!” My role is to manage the battlefield so both groups can properly retreat. Keep the possibility of sacrificing some of my own to get them away... Ah, need to take care of that one.
“Ten of you, with me! We’ll take the one trying to flank!” A quick glance to Lady Kuroi.
It’s almost heartrending. The flames that burned red deep in her eyes are all askew, as though disconnected from any movement... but that’s just sentimentality.
“We’ll cut through the left! Concentrate!” People have spirits. Each spirit has a color, and there’s endless shades of them. The brighter, the richer, the more they move people. To greater heights of joy. To lower depths of pain.
“Go!” Lady Kuroi’s spirit is the deep color of rage. At least, that’s how she probably thinks of herself... but I think that’s not true. Her current state is proof of that.
Because people become sentimental when their spirits are moved.
“Good! Next! Those three!” Sentimentality, in terms of color, is transparent. A silent void. Because the spirit doesn’t tend to any color, they become unable to act.
“That’s... We’re going to reinforce that platoon! Ready fire lances!” Lady Kuroi isn’t a goddess. She’s human. The Apostle of Humanity. It’s fine for her heart to move, to break. Otherwise, she couldn’t really feel rage. Only people can feel the depths of that rage.
Or... perhaps even the gods are the same.
Why else would one come down to rage for humanity? Without a spirit, there’s no truth there.
“Damned humans! This is for my beloved brother! Die!” Well, that one’s a problem. It’s not just strong, it has a thirst for vengeance mixed into its hostility. A raging vampire. Amplifying their strength. I’ve already lost four troopers to it. I suppose I could attack it, claiming it as vengeance for my fallen troopers.
But, I won’t. Because the magic I feed into my fire lance is tinged with sadness.
Flame magic, Blue Scales.
“Wha?! Blue flames?! Two, no, three blue fireballs are slowly... following me!” That fire is tenacious. Know that there’s this kind of anger, as well. Not just the intensity of rage. But a slow, simmering hatred.
“Gyah! Poison?! This is a poisoned flame?! I-I can’t move!” Perceptive. According to Origis, I’m a bit saturnine in temperament. I don’t want to just end it by burning you. No, you lot can do to suffer more.
“Damned... human!” Seems I’m also something of a trickster. As you direct your attention to me, one of my troopers lops off your head from behind. The end.
“Platoons, take the wounded to the host! After which... After which, follow me!” Lady Kuroi. Oh dear, Lady Kuroi. No doubt you will dash out again. So I offer a single prayer for you.
As your heart desires.
As the heart, with divinity within, wills. That you remain that way.
“All platoons! Continue at your discretion! We’ll move to stop that!” The core of the vampire horde. The thousand that accompany the Golden. They’re heading not for the elves, but for us. Part of it is probably the fact they don’t want to deal with the Bell’s defenses. Even Agias doesn’t stand a chance against them.
So someone else needs to draw their attention.
“Hold! Hold a moment, oh human!” A voice from the sky. To fly through these clouds, a rather unique elf, I see.
“Our army will handle them! Focus your efforts on protecting your retreating forces! I have sent healers to them as well!” A dragon knight commander. With scores of leaves alongside. Better late than never, I suppose.
“Understood! We leave the field to you!”
“Yes, it’s ours!” It’s a small price to pay, if a smile and a nod reduce our losses.
Resentment is best left bubbling in the pit of the stomach.
No need to forget it, but it’s best left until you gain catharsis.